Rosmah likely to be charged this week

KUALA LUMPUR (September 26): Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) again, and may also face criminal charges alongside her husband, embattled former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for her involvement in the case of SRC International Sdn Bhd — a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

A source told The Edge Financial Daily Rosmah has been summoned to assist MACC investigations at its headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am today over graft allegations related to SRC International.

The source said she is likely to be charged tomorrow. However, details of the charge sheet are not immediately available as the matter is still being deliberated on by the authorities.

Other media reports, also quoting sources, said Rosmah could face up to 20 criminal charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) 2001.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki, when contacted by Bernama yesterday, confirmed that Rosmah has been asked to be present to assist the anti-graft body’s investigations.

He, however, declined to elaborate.

On Monday, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull reportedly said that investigation into Rosmah has been completed and the report has been submitted to the Attorney-General (AG) for the next move.

“The MACC is only responsible for carrying out the investigation and it is up to the AG whether to prosecute Rosmah or not,” he was quoted saying by Bernama.

On June 5, Rosmah was questioned for over three hours by MACC over SRC International.

She and Najib are being questioned as part of the investigation into SRC International and some RM42 million that was channelled into Najib’s personal bank account.

Last Thursday, Najib, who was finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s advisory board, was charged with four counts of power abuse and 21 counts of money laundering over nearly RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds received in his personal account with AmIslamic Bank Bhd.

Earlier on July 3, Najib was charged with one count of power abuse and three counts of money laundering over RM42 million allegedly misappropriated from SRC International.

In total, Najib faces five counts of power abuse and 24 counts of money laundering. He has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the investment company and was cleared by former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali in 2016.

Apart from Najib and Rosmah, their son Riza Aziz was also summoned by MACC for four straight days of questioning in July.

Riza’s questioning is believed to be related to his film production company, Red Granite Pictures Inc, which the authorities suspected it received some US$100 million (RM414 million) of funds siphoned off 1MDB.

He is alleged to have used the funds to produce big-budget Hollywood movies including Dumb and Dumber To, Daddy’s Home and The Wolf of Wall Street, the last starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on Sept 26, 2018.

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