Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor arrives in court on October 4. (Source: channelnewsasia.com) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been charged with money laundering in association with the scandal at state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
She was arrested on October 3 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
However, Rosmah Mansor, 66, denied all the 17 counts of money laundering at court.
Prosecutors demanded bail of 10 million ringgit and confiscation of her passport. They also asked the court not to allow her to meet any witnesses.
Rosmah has long been known for flaunting a range of designer handbags and showy jewellery. Her lavish lifestyle has raised public suspicions over her involvement in the 1MDB case.
The Malaysian authorities said the total market value of luxury watches, jewellery, high-end handbags, and cash seized at properties linked to Najib amounted to 372 million USD.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged on September 20 with money laundering and abuse of power in connection with the 1MDB case. The charges include four counts of abuse of power regarding an amount of 2.3 billion ringgit (556.3 million USD) and 21 counts of money laundering.
However, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Najib founded the 1MDB investment fund in 2009, supposedly to serve Malaysia’s development through global partnerships and foreign direct investment. However, it became the centre of a money laundering scandal, allegedly causing losses of up to 3.7 billion USD and leading to probes into the financial markets in several countries such as the US, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.
He was arrested in July after being charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust in his former posts as Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, in association with the transfer of 42 million ringgit, or 10 million USD, from SRC International Sdn Bhd to his personal bank accounts between August 2011 and March 2015.
Najib was later freed after paying a bail of 250,000 USD. –VNA
VNA
