Malaysian court acquits ex-PM’s wife Mansor of money laundering, tax evasion charges
In a surprising turn of events, Rosmah Mansor, the wife of imprisoned former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been acquitted of charges related to money laundering and tax evasion.
The High Court of Malaysia delivered the judgment on Thursday, citing insufficient evidence to support the case.
Rosmah’s legal troubles stem from multiple corruption investigations that followed her husband’s unexpected defeat in the 2018 election.
The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, involving alleged embezzlement of billions of dollars from the state fund, played a significant role in Najib’s loss of power after nine years in office. Despite facing numerous legal challenges, both Rosmah and Najib have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Following her acquittal, Rosmah spoke at a livestreamed press conference, expressing gratitude for the court’s decision.
“This is what I call justice, and this is the kind of justice everyone deserves,” she remarked, thanking her legal team and the judge for their efforts.
While she was cleared of the charges related to money laundering and tax evasion, Rosmah’s legal battles are far from over. She is currently out on bail as she appeals a 2022 conviction for soliciting and accepting bribes linked to a $279 million solar power project during her husband’s tenure. The 10-year sentence is under review.
Rosmah’s extravagant lifestyle, which included a collection of over 500 luxury handbags and 12,000 items of jewelry, has drawn significant public scrutiny, especially following police raids connected to the 1MDB investigation.
In a related development, her husband Najib Razak has also faced legal setbacks. Though recently acquitted of certain charges related to 1MDB, he still faces multiple trials linked to the $4.5 billion scandal.
In 2022, he was found guilty of corruption and money laundering and sentenced to 12 years in prison. However, after a pardon board’s intervention, his sentence was reduced by half, and he is now seeking to serve his remaining time under house arrest.
Despite his apology for his role in the scandal, Najib maintains his innocence, claiming he was unaware of any illicit activities surrounding 1MDB.
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