Court Clears Ex-Minister’s Wife Of Money Laundering, Tax Evasion Charges
Since Najib’s unexpected election defeat in 2018, both he and Rosmah have faced multiple investigations into corruption.
Rosmah Mansor, the wife of imprisoned former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, has been acquitted of charges related to money laundering and tax evasion.
Mansor was acquitted on Thursday in a judgment delivered by Malaysia’s High Court, which cited a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with the case, Reuters reports.
Since Najib’s unexpected election defeat in 2018, both he and Rosmah have faced multiple investigations into corruption.
Voters’ outrage over Najib’s alleged involvement in the multi-billion-dollar scandal surrounding the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) led to his loss of power after nine years in office.
Both have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Although acquitted of these specific charges, Rosmah is not free from legal troubles.
She is currently out on bail as she appeals a 10-year prison sentence handed down in 2022 for soliciting and accepting bribes to help a company secure a $279 million solar power project during Najib’s tenure.
Rosmah has been widely criticized in Malaysia for her extravagant lifestyle, including a collection of over 500 luxury handbags and 12,000 items of jewelry, which were seized during police raids related to 1MDB investigations.
According to the High Court ruling seen by Reuters, the charges of money laundering and tax evasion against Rosmah were dismissed due to a lack of legal merit.
Rosmah expressed gratitude for the court’s decision during a livestreamed press conference, thanking her legal team and the judge.
“This is what I call justice, and this is the kind of justice everyone deserves,” she said.
Her acquittal follows the recent dismissal of corruption charges against Najib related to 1MDB, a decision attributed to procedural errors and the prosecution’s failure to disclose critical documents.
Najib still faces multiple trials linked to the 1MDB scandal, in which approximately $4.5 billion was allegedly embezzled through a complex international scheme between 2009 and 2014.
He was found guilty of corruption and money laundering in 2022, receiving a 12-year sentence, which was later reduced by half after a pardon board chaired by Malaysia’s king.
Although Najib has apologized for his role in the scandal, he maintains he was unaware of any illicit transactions involving the state fund.
He is now seeking to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
