MACC: Rosmah to face several money laundering charges

PETALING JAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will be facing several charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed her arrest and said that the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be taken to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court at 8am Thursday (Oct 4).

The MACC added that Rosmah was arrested after obtaining the Attorney General's Chamber's permission to charge her.

This is the first time the wife of a former prime minister has been arrested.

Rosmah's appointment with the MACC Wednesday (Oct 3) is her third round of questioning with the anti-graft agency.

On June 5, she was questioned for about five hours over a probe into SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) subsidiary.

On Sept 26, Rosmah was called in for a second round of questioning – this time on 1MDB – which lasted for almost 13 hours.

The police are also expected to call Rosmah in for questioning and to verify which of the jewellery pieces seized during raids on several premises linked to Najib belongs to her.

Two jewellers have since come forward to seek the return of 47 pieces of jewellery that were delivered to Rosmah but had not been paid for.

On June 26, Lebanese-based jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL filed a suit against Rosmah at the Kuala Lumpur High Court seeking a mandatory order for 44 pieces of jewellery amounting to US$14,787,770 (RM59,831,317.40), to be returned.

Dubai-based jeweller Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery is also seeking the recovery of a necklace and another necklace and earring set worth more than US$5mil (RM20.69mil) in total.