Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak leaves the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Aug 19, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/Lim Huey Teng)

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak took to the witness box for the first time on Tuesday (Dec 3) to defend himself on criminal charges linked to a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).