Wife of former Malaysian PM charged with money laundering

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).
Wife of former Malaysian PM charged with money laundering ảnh 1Former 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, hasbeen charged with money laundering in association with the scandal at stateinvestment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

She was arrested on October 3 bythe Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

However, Rosmah Mansor, 66,denied all the 17 counts of money laundering at court.

Prosecutors demanded bail of 10million ringgit and confiscation of her passport. They also asked the court notto allow her to meet any witnesses.

Rosmah has long been known forflaunting a range of designer handbags and showy jewellery. Her lavishlifestyle has raised public suspicions over her involvement in the 1MDB case.

 The Malaysian authorities said the totalmarket value of luxury watches, jewellery, high-end handbags, and cash seizedat properties linked to Najib amounted to 372 million USD.

Former Malaysian Prime MinisterNajib Razak was charged on September 20 with money laundering and abuse ofpower in connection with the 1MDB case. The charges include four counts ofabuse of power regarding an amount of 2.3 billion ringgit (556.3 million USD)and 21 counts of money laundering.

However, he pleaded not guiltyto all charges.

 Najib founded the 1MDB investment fund in2009, supposedly to serve Malaysia’s development through global partnershipsand foreign direct investment. However, it became the centre of a moneylaundering scandal, allegedly causing losses of up to 3.7 billion USD andleading to probes into the financial markets in several countries such as theUS, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, and China.

 He was arrested in July after being chargedwith three counts of criminal breach of trust in his former posts as PrimeMinister and Minister of Finance, in association with the transfer of 42million ringgit, or 10 million USD, from SRC International Sdn Bhd to hispersonal bank accounts between August 2011 and March 2015.

 Najib was later freed after paying a bail of250,000 USD. –VNA
VNA

See more

At Pulau Seraya power station (Photo: Straitimes)

Singapore begins construction on hydrogen-fueled power plant

Singapore on October 23 began the construction of an 800 million USD power plant that has the capability to use hydrogen to generate electricity, as part of a push to utilise the fuel to reach Singapore’s net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

125th anniversary of Permanent Court of Arbitration celebrated

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and missions of the Philippines, Australia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hungary, Thailand, France, Eritrea and Austria, organised a ceremony on October 22 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), as part of the International Law Week at the UN General Assembly's Legal Committee (Sixth Committee).

CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Anuar Fariz Fadzil (Photo: focusmalaysia.my)

Malaysia continues placing emphasis on digitalisation

The Budget 2025 provides significant support to further accelerate Malaysia’s digitalisation, encourage adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and drive inclusive growth, further positioning Malaysia as a leading digital hub within the ASEAN region, according to CEO of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow (Photo: thestar.com.my)

Malaysia's economic reforms boost investment inflow

Malaysia has attracted substantial foreign investments, reaching 22.2 billion MYR (5.16 billion USD) in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level for the same period since 2012, according to UOB's Global Markets and Economics report.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN speaks at the debate (Photo: VNA)

Maintaining peace, stability a must for progress on human rights: Ambassador

Progress in human rights can only be achieved by maintaining peace and stability, respecting the rule of law at both the international and national levels, and ensuring respect for the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

A visitor browses travel promotions at a travel fair in Nonthaburi province. (Photo: Bangkok Post)

Thailand plans enhanced support for domestic tourism

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is aiming to increase subsidy to local tourists in the upcoming stimulus scheme to 50% and would like to change the criteria for online travel agents, mandating them to register in Thailand to avoid losing income to foreign companies.

Oil field offshore Indonesia. (Photo: thejakartapost.com)

Indonesia begins major oil, gas exploration in Sulawesi

Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina, along with foreign partners Sinopec from China and Kuwait’s Kufpec, has signed a contract to explore the Melati oil and gas block, located off the coast of Sulawesi. The block is estimated to contain trillions of cubic feet of gas reserves.