KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - The Latest on the corruption case surrounding Malaysia’s 1MDB state investment fund (all times local):
1 p.m.
Former Prime Minister Najjib Razak and his wife have left a Malaysian court building together after she pleaded not guilty to laundering illegal proceeds linked to the graft scandal at the 1MDB state investment fund.
Rosmah Mansor was charged Thursday with 12 counts of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities and another five counts of failing to declare taxes on the money. She claimed trial and was released on bail.
Najib also appeared in court Thursday for the management of his own trial over the 1MDB scandal. He has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges and is to face trial next year.
The couple smiled and waved at reporters but didn’t speak as they left.
Her lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent told reporters, “This is a good opportunity for (Rosmah) to…clear her name.”
___
9:30 a.m.
The wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najjib Razak has pleaded not guilty to laundering illegal proceeds from the scandal at the 1MDB state investment fund.
Rosmah Mansor was charged with 17 counts of money laundering and claimed trial Thursday, five months after her husband’s shocking electoral loss due to public outrage at the scandal.
Rosmah was arrested by the anti-graft agency at its office Wednesday after being questioned a third time over alleged theft and money laundering at the fund.
She has smiled and waved at reporters as she was escorted into court but said little. In a biography in 2013, Rosmah said it was common for a prime minister’s wife to receive expensive jewelry and gifts. She also said she had earned money from an album that wasn’t released to the public but was bought by government ministers who were fans of her singing talent.
___
9 a.m.
The detained wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najjib Razak has arrived in court where she will face money laundering charges in a graft scandal at the 1MDB state investment fund.
Rosmah Mansor was detained by the anti-graft agency Wednesday after it questioned her a third time over alleged theft and money laundering at the fund.
Rosmah smiled and waved at reporters Thursday as she was escorted into the court building. The anti-graft agency has said she will face several for charges under the anti-money laundering act.
Najib also appeared at the court building Thursday for the management of his own corruption trial over the 1MDB scandal. He has pleaded not guilty and accused the government of seeking political vengeance. He faces trial next year.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.