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