Malaysia’s former first lady will reportedly face money-laundering charges in the 1MDB scandal – after her husband was already hit with corruption charges.
Rosmah Mansor, who is married to the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, may soon be charged for her alleged involvement in the $4.5 billion 1MDB graft scheme, Malaysian newspaper «New Strait Times» reported on its website on Tuesday.
Investigators in Kuala Lumpur are reheating a largely dormant investigation into the stealing of 1MDB funds since change of government. The first person to face corruption charges is none other than her husband, Najib Razak, the former Prime Minister. Najib has protested his innocence and vowed to fight.
Mansor is unpopular in Malaysia, where she is viewed as a spendthrift with a penchant for high-end Italian and French handbags, ostentatious jewelry, and anti-aging treatments. Recent raids at a luxury Kuala Lumpur condo linked to Najib’s family turned up almost 300 boxes of designer handbags, 114 million Malaysian ringgit ($27.5 million) in cash and jewelry. The family has said the bags and baubles were wedding presents to his daughter.
5th Avenue Diamonds
One of Mansor’s last public appearances was in July, where she was filmed by news outlets receiving consolations from supporters after Najib was charged (he has vowed to fight the charges and prove his innocence):
Famously, Rosmah received a $27.3 million 22-carat pink diamond necklace from New York jeweler Lorraine Schwartz four years ago. The diamond deal was reportedly orchestrated by Jho Low and paid for with stolen 1MDB money. U.S. prosecutors allege Low was at the heart of the 1MDB corruption scheme.
The still-AWOL Malaysian financier denies wrong-doing but acknowledges youthful mistakes, on a recently-launched website. Low has been stripped of his private jet as well as his $260 million yacht, the Equanimity, as well as luxury real estate, art, and other assets.
Deutsche Bank Involved?
Separately, investigators appear to be widening their net around the 1MDB scandal: ex-Deutsche Banker Tan Boon-Kee was interviewed by Singaporean investigators last month, according to various media reports. She ran Deutsche’s financial institutions group in Asia until July.
She was questioned on her links to both Low and to Roger Ng, a former Goldman Sachs Malaysia banker. Tim Leissner, Goldman’s former southeast Asia head, appears to be cooperating with prosecutors in the U.S. The former star banker was let go by Goldman and is banned in Singapore for ten years, as well as barred from the U.S. securities industry.
-https://www.finews.asia
Report: Charges being readied for Najib kin
PETALING JAYA— Authorities will charge a family member of Datuk Seri Najib Razak with money laundering soon, according to sources familiar with the investigation dating over two years.
The New Straits Times reported today that investigators are finalising links between the family member and Najib, whom the police have revealed as receiving billions from 1MDB in his personal bank accounts.
The sources said the file on the close relative to the former prime minister was opened after Barisan Nasional was voted out in May.
Local investigators have questioned Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and stepson Riza Aziz over the 1MDB scandal; Najib is facing seven criminal charges related to a former subsidiary of the state investment firm.
The sources said the family member to Najib could face even more charges than the ex-PM, suggesting that up 20 counts of money laundering may be on the books.
One possible charge relates to the payment for hormone-based anti-ageing products from the United States.
“The cheque payment of more than RM1 million was made out to a ‘Datuk’ doctor in February 2015 for the purchase of two sets of medication worth in excess RM500,000 each.
“A similar account number from the records allegedly linked to Najib and a now-closed AmIslamic account was visible on the contentious cheque issued to the doctor,” it said, adding that the account was subsequently closed weeks after payment were made.
Najib was charged in July with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one charge for abuse of power involving some RM42 million allegedly funnelled to his private bank account from former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.
In August, he was charged with three counts of money laundering amounting to RM42mil under Section 4 (1)(b) of Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges. – Malay Mail
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