Wife of Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Arrested on Corruption Charges

Kuala Lumpur: The wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested on Wednesday on money-laundering charges related to a corruption scandal. Rosmah Mansor, 66, was arrested by Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and will face several money laundering charges, Efe news reported citing a statement. This was Rosmah’s third appearance in front of commission after she was interrogated on June 5 and September 26. She was questioned over the alleged diversion of funds from the state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund to the couple’s private accounts. Her husband was also questioned by the police on Wednesday, having been released on bail last Friday after being charged with 25 fresh charges of money-laundering and abuse of power.

Najib, 65, has been charged with 32 counts of corruption in 1MDB, which he founded in 2009 and presided over till 2016. A news report in 2015 alleged that Najib had diverted $681 million from 1MDb into his personal account. He denied the allegations, saying the money was a donation from a Saudi prince. He was cleared by Malaysian authorities while in power. (IANS)