Najib said he has reflected on the scandal, which US authorities had dubbed the largest kleptocracy ever, over the past 26 months.

“It pains me every day that the 1MDB debacle happened when I was the prime minister and finance minister, and I would like to apologise unreservedly,” he said in a statement that was read by his son, Nizar, at the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.

Najib denied being the mastermind or collaborating with fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, in the scheme.

“I am still in deep shock knowing now the extent of the wretched and unconscionable shenanigans and illegal things that happened in 1MDB.”

Najib said he has already been punished politically over the affair and added that he “should not be victimised legally, too”.

“Being held legally responsible for the things that I did not initiate or knowingly enable is unfair to me and I hope and pray that the judicial process will, in the end, prove my innocence.”

Nizar did not field any questions after reading out his father’s statement.

Four criminal trials, 42 charges

Najib has been slapped with a total of 42 charges in several trials linked to 1MDB.

He is currently serving a reduced six-year sentence following a pardon, after he was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC International.

Najib admitted that he ought to have acted differently when various parties began to question what was happening at 1MDB.

While he did initiate various investigations, the former Pekan MP said he was inclined to believe explanations given by the board and management of the sovereign wealth fund.

“When I became suspicious about what was actually transpiring at 1MDB, my immediate concerns were its financial predicaments and the risk it posed to diplomatic and bilateral relations at the highest level.”

Najib’s apology comes six days before the High Court decides whether he is to enter his defence in the 1MDB corruption case that started five years ago.