Wife of former Malaysia leader questioned

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Anti-corruption investigators questioned the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak on Tuesday about alleged theft and money-laundering involving the 1MDB state investment fund, as officials announced a probe into other suspicious multibillion-dollar transactions under Najib's leadership.

The prosecution of Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor over the 1MDB scandal, which helped lead to Najib's stunning ouster in May 9 national elections, could be sped up with the government's appointment on Tuesday of a new attorney-general.

The appointee, distinguished lawyer Tommy Thomas, is the first person from outside Malaysia's Malay majority to hold the powerful position in more than half a century. His Najib-appointed predecessor had stifled investigations.

Thomas, 66, is a renowned senior lawyer whose first task will be to handle prosecution of the 1MDB case.

Rosmah, accompanied by her daughter and son-in-law, didn't speak to reporters as she was escorted into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office, where she was questioned for three hours. She was summoned nearly two weeks after Najib was questioned twice by the agency.

In another blow to the former first couple, their lawyer M. Puravelan said that he is no longer representing Rosmah and Najib. He said another prominent lawyer Yusof Zainal Abideen had also withdrawn. He said they didn't quit because of disagreement over legal strategies for the 1MDB case but declined to elaborate.

Najib set up the 1MDB fund when he took power in 2009 but it accumulated billions in debts. US investigators say Najib's associates stole and laundered $4.5 billion from the fund from 2009 to 2014, some of which landed in Najib's bank account. They say $27.3 million was used to buy a rare diamond necklace for Rosmah.

New Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad reopened investigations into 1MDB that were suppressed under Najib's rule. He has also banned the couple from leaving the country.

The country's new anti-graft chief has said Najib, who denies any wrongdoing, could soon face criminal charges.

On Tuesday, officials announced they had alerted the anti-graft commission to at least $2 billion worth of government-related transactions that are "highly suspicious".

Najib was grilled last month over why an additional 42 million ringgit ($10.6 million) was transferred into his bank account from SRC International, a former unit of the 1MDB fund, using multiple intermediary companies. Rosmah is being questioned in the same case.

Police have seized 114 million ringgit in cash and hundreds of expensive designer handbags and jewelry from Najib's home and other properties.

Associated Press

(China Daily 06/07/2018 page11)