Najib's stepson Riza Aziz detained, to be charged with money laundering (updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Riza Aziz, the stepson of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, will be charged in court with money laundering on Friday (July 5).

It is learnt that he was summoned to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters earlier Thursday (July 4) and that investigators had arrested him. 

Sources said that this was to enable them to finalise the process to charge him. 

"Yes he will be charged tomorrow," said a source. 

When contacted, MACC chief Latheefa Koya confirmed that Riza was arrested at noon and was released on bail.

"He has to appear in court tomorrow to face charges under Amla (Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act)," she said.

Riza is the son of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and the owner of Red Granite Pictures.

Meanwhile, Najib's daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib took the issue to social media in a bid to defend her stepbrother, Riza.

On her Instagram, she said Riza had faced a civil lawsuit over the same matter in the United States where Red Granite paid a substantial amount to the US Department of Justice (DoJ). 

"But despite the settlement in the US and the fact that alleged wrong-doings occurred entirely outside of Malaysia, MACC decides to press charges after a whole year of leaving this case in cold storage.

"He is not a criminal, he’s my brother," she said in a caption to a photograph of herself and Riza.

 

 

 

 

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Today MACC decided to charge my brother. He has faced a civil lawsuit over the same subject matter in the US. As part of the settlement, Red Granite has paid a substantial amount to the DOJ. But despite the settlement in the US and the fact that alleged wrong-doings occurred entirely outside of Malaysia, MACC decides to press charges after a whole year of leaving this case in cold storage. He is not a criminal, he’s my brother. Pic taken before heading off this morning ?? . #doublejeopardy #siblingsstandtogether A post shared by yananajib (@yananajib) on Jul 4, 2019 at 2:20am PDT