Malaysia’s first lady allegedly received US$30 million worth of jewels – financed with funds stolen from 1MDB fund
US Justice Department is seeking to seize a total of about US$1.7 billion in assets that were bought with misappropriated funds
Nearly US$30 million of funds stolen from scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was used to buy jewellery for the prime minister’s wife, including a rare 22-carat pink diamond set in a necklace, according to the latest filings by the US Justice Department in a civil lawsuit.
The filings lodged at the US District Court in Los Angeles on Thursday did not identify Prime Minister Najib Razak or his wife Rosmah Mansor by name, but said the jewellery purchases were for the wife of ‘Malaysian Official 1’.
Malaysian and US government sources have previously confirmed that ‘Malaysian Official 1’ refers to Najib.
The diamond necklace set alone cost US$27.3 million, according to latest filings in a lawsuit that was launched in July last year.
This money financed the lavish lifestyles of the alleged co-conspirators at the expense and detriment of the Malaysian people
The accusations will provide further ammunition for Najib’s political rivals, who often criticise his wife for lavish spending, and come at an awkward time for the Malaysian leader, as he had been expected to call a snap election later this year.