Saudi confirms 'genuine' $681 million donation to Malaysian PM Najib Razak

Najib has been battling allegations that the money was funnelled from heavily indebted state investment fund 1MDB into his accounts

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir on Friday said that the $681 million banked into Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's bank accounts was a "genuine donation".

Najib's office said that the confirmation by Al-Jubeir vindicates Najib against allegations that the money was siphoned from heavily indebted state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Al-Jubeir said that Saudi authorities were aware of the donation, and that it was given without any strings attached.

Malaysia's foreign ministry provided a video clip of Al-Jubeir's comments, made on Friday to Malaysian reporters in Istanbul after a meeting with Najib.

Najib has been battling allegations that the money was funnelled from 1MDB into his accounts. He was cleared in January by the attorney general, who said it was a donation from Saudi Arabia's royal family and that Najib had returned most of it.