Rosmah Mansor, wife of disgraced Malaysian ex-PM Najib Razak, is arrested
Investigations have centred on her role in the 1MDB scandal, for which her deposed husband is also facing criminal charges
The arrest of Rosmah – long compared with Imelda Marcos, the spouse of the corruption-tainted late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, because of their extravagant spending habits – signalled that prosecutors were intensifying their months-long investigation into the scandal.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement that Rosmah was arrested at 3.20pm at its offices in the administrative capital Putrajaya.
She had reported to the anti-graft agency earlier this morning for her second round of questioning in two weeks.
The agency said Rosmah would be charged on Thursday under the country’s Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
Investigations have centred on her role in the 1MDB scandal, for which her deposed husband, Najib, is also facing criminal charges that could see him spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted.