PUTRAJAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was arrested at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here yesterday while she was under custody giving her statement.
The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was being investigated for alleged money laundering, was arrested at 3.20pm yesterday and will be taken to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court at 8am today to formally answer for the crime she had allegedly committed.
The New Straits Times has learnt that the 66-year-old is looking at between 15 and 17 charges for alleged offences under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
This newspaper also learnt that prosecutors, in levelling the charges against her, will likely link her to a sum of about RM7 million that had made way into her account.
It is believed that the cash was deposited directly into her account and that it came from questionable sources.
Rosmah had, about 11am yesterday, presented herself for questioning after being summoned by MACC through a notice issued on Tuesday evening.
She spent the night at the MACC headquarters’ underground lock-up facility.
Yesterday would be the third time Rosmah was called in by the agency to have her statement recorded.
She arrived in a chauffeur-driven car in matching green baju kurung and scarf that were a few shades lighter than the ones she donned a week ago when she presented herself to the commission for the second time.
On Sept 26, she was grilled for 13 hours. The first time she was summoned to the MACC headquarters was on June 5, when investigators sat with her for three hours.
Rosmah, who was accompanied by her lawyers, Datuk K. Kumaraendran and Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, appeared calm, even smiling and extending a few friendly nods to media representatives in front of the office building.
In a statement, MACC said Rosmah’s arrest followed the consent for prosecution by the
Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-GC).
“Following that, Rosmah will face several charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Rosmah will be taken to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Oct 4, 2018, at 8am to be charged,” the statement read.
On Sept 24, MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said the investigations into Rosmah were concluded and that the report had been submitted to the A-GC.
At a press conference shortly after Rosmah’s arrest, Kumaraendran said he did not know how many charges Rosmah would face.
“She was detained after giving her statement to the graft buster today (Wednesday).
“I was informed that she would be taken to the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex tomorrow.”
The NST first reported on Sept 18 that Rosmah would be made to face several money-laundering charges. Additional reporting by Noor Atiqah Sulaiman