[ad_1]
by
Rozanna Latiff and Joseph Sipalan
Kuala Lumpur |The wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, was charged with 17 money laundering offenses on Thursday as anti-corruption agents investigated billions of dollars missing from the United States. State coffers.
Rosmah Mansor, criticized for her extravagant lifestyle as Malaysia's First Lady, and Najib, are at the center of a massive corruption investigation launched after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's dazzling election victory in May.
Najib faces 32 counts, from money laundering to abuse of power and to the criminal breach of trust, for billions of dollars missing from the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He denied any wrongdoing.
It was unclear whether the charges against Rosmah related to 1MDB, but his arrest took place after three interrogations by anti-corruption agents about 1MDB, which US authorities claim that more than $ 4.5 billion was diverted . Last Wednesday, Rosmah was interrogated for almost 13 hours.
After spending a night in detention following her arrest by the Registry investigators on Wednesday, Rosmah entered Thursday in a Kuala Lumpur court, flanked by dozens of armed police officers. She smiled, waved and kissed the media.
Publicity
Rosmah has been charged with 17 counts under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. She was accused of handling funds of about 7.1 million ringgits (US $ 1.71 million) from illegal activities and failing to report this amount. for tax purposes.
"The offenses alleged against the accused are very serious," said prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram.
"In this case, the defendant unfortunately goes against the personality and reputation of his accused, because a person of his rank should not be in the dock," he said. declared.
Rosmah pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge awarded him a bail of 2 million ringgit (482,509.05 USD).
"This is a good opportunity for Datin Seri Rosmah to clarify his name," said his lawyer, Geethan Ram Vincent, to the press.
Money laundering charges are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of at least five times the value of the proceeds of any illegal transfer, or five million ringgits (1 , 21 million USD), whichever is greater.
Rosmah, 66, is known for displaying a range of Hermes Birkin handbags and valuable jewelry, and for having spent thousands of dollars on shopping trips around the world.
His rowdy lifestyle has been criticized. Many Malaysians asked her how she could afford to buy luxury items with her husband's salary.
Malaysians have been outraged by the seizure of approximately $ 275 million worth of money and property, including a large collection of designer handbags, jewelery and designer watches from properties related to Najib and Rosmah.
Najib also appeared Thursday in front of another hearing room in Kuala Lumpur for a pre-trial hearing. He faces numerous charges of about $ 10.6 million that have been transferred to his account since SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. Najib pleaded not guilty.
He then joined Rosmah and they were seen leaving the courthouse together. "Thank you, thank you," said Rosmah, beckoning to some supporters gathered as she walked out of the audience room behind Najib.
The corruption charges have been calling for Najib for years and peaked in 2015 when the the Wall Street newspaper reported that nearly $ 700 million in 1MDB state fund funds had been diverted to his personal bank account.
1MDB is now subject to money laundering probes in more than six countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.
93-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir retired in 2003 after 22 years in power, but retired from the party to join the opposition and overthrow Najib in this year's elections.
After his dazzling victory, Mahathir reopened investigations on 1MDB and the possible involvement of Najib in his operations.
Asked about the charges against Rosmah, Mahathir said the government was only following the law.
"It's not revenge," Mahathir told reporters, according to L & # 39; star newspaper.
[ad_2]Source link
