[JURIST] Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak [official website] fired Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail [official website] on Tuesday on news that Patail was investigating him on corruption charges. The charges include documents that allegedly money from the state investment fund went into Razak’s personal accounts. Razak also announced that Deputy Attorney General Muhyiddin Yassin will also be removed and replaced by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a cabinet member. The documents related to Razak’s corruption also allegedly show that [AP report] $700 million was wired from entities linked to state investment fund 1MDB. Razak admitted that these accounts do exist, as do the receipts of the funds. But he has disputed the fact that government funds were used for political gain. Officials from 1MDB have also denied any criminal activity on Razak’s part. Had they been filed, these would have been the first criminal charges against a Malaysian prime minister.

Najib Razak’s corruption allegations have been a hot topic of debate the past few months in Malaysia. Earlier this month, two major opposition parties in Malaysia called for an emergency [JURIST report] sitting of parliament in order to discuss the future of the country’s prime minister. A police report has also been lodged against Razak by many opposition members, including representatives [Reuters report] of political parties. In 2006, Razak, who has served as the country’s prime minister since 2009, was connected was accused [BBC report] of being connected to the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, after her remains were found in October of that year in Kuala Lumpur. Razak, who was deputy prime minister at the time, denied having any connections to the murder or even knowing the model. A political analyst and associate of Razak’s was charged with aiding [BBC report] the murder, but these charges were later dropped.