Najib’s wife faces 17 charges

International Desk: Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor faces 17 charges, including 12 for money laundering.

It comes as her husband also faces corruption charges in a multi-billion-dollar scandal that shocked Malaysia.

Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to money laundering and tax evasion charges.

The first 12 charges related to deposits to a single bank account belonging to her from 2013-2017, totalling more than 7 million ringgit (€1.47 million, $1.68 million). Five further charges were for dodging taxes on the deposits.

In the charge sheets, prosecutors said Rosmah "engaged directly in a transaction that involves proceeds of unlawful activity" in violation of laws against money laundering.

While the charge sheets didn't mention the Malaysian state fund 1MDB, which her husband's charges relate to, or where the allegedly illegal proceeds originated, Rosmah was arrested by the anti-graft agency Wednesday after being questioned for a third time over alleged theft and money laundering at the 1MDB fund.

Rosmah was allowed to post bail of 2 million ringgit but was ordered to surrender her passport and was banned from contacting any witnesses. Prosecutors had asked for bail of 10 million ringgit, citing the seriousness of the charges.

Rosmah's designer handbags, jewelery and other displays of wealth were heavily criticized ahead of last May's election, with many questioning where the money for her lavish lifestyle came from.

Source: Agencies
 

risingbd/Dhaka/October 04, 2018/A K Azad