Malaysian prosecutors have charged a prominent ruling party politician with corruption over a land deal that enabled him to build a personal Balinese-style mansion.
Mohamad Khir Toyo, the former chief minister of Malaysia's central Selangor state, has pleaded innocent in a district court to a charge of inappropriately obtaining land worth an estimated 3.5 million ringgit ($1 million) in 2007. He faces up to two years in prison if convicted.
The charge Monday is a new sign that Prime Minister Najib Razak wants to prove that his administration is serious about curbing graft ahead of national elections that some believe will be called next year
