MACC quizzes Rosmah today - Nation

KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, arrived for questioning on Tuesday (Jun 5) at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya.

She was called in by the country's anti-graft authorities to assist in their probe into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) subsidiary SRC International.

Rosmah arrived in a convoy of four private cars and was accompanied by her daughter Nooryana Najwa.

Flanked by security guards and her lawyers, she stepped out of a silver Mercedes carrying a bright red handbag that appeared to be a model made by Italian luxury fashion brand Versace.

MACC issued a notice to Rosmah last Friday to be at its headquarters at 11am to give a statement. The notice was handed over by an MACC officer at Rosmah and Najib's residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, said a source at the anti-graft body.

Several MACC officers were also seen leaving the residence with a bag believed to contain documents taken from the residence.

Attention has focused on Rosmah after police discovered hundreds of luxury handbags and a stash of jewellery and cash during raids on apartments linked to Najib and his family.

Malaysian police have said cash of RM114 million (US$28.6 million) and more than 400 handbags were seized. Experts were being brought in to value the jewellery, watches and other seized items.

Najib, defeated in a stunning election loss last month by his mentor-turned-rival, Mahathir Mohamad, has become the subject of a money-laundering probe. He and Rosmah have been barred from leaving the country.

Najib also gave statements to MACC last month about a suspicious transfer of US$10.6 million to his bank account.

SRC International was set up in 2011 by the previous Barisan Nasional government and was a unit of the scandal-plagued sovereign fund 1MDB before it was placed under the Finance Ministry in 2012.

CREDIT CARD NOT UNDER ROSMAH'S NAME: LAWYERS

Rosmah's lawyers said on Tuesday that they were confident their client will be cleared by MACC.

"The credit cards are not under her name ... No payment was made into her accounts," said senior criminal lawyer K Kumaraendran, adding that his client was very composed and had expressed her willingness to cooperate in the probe.

This is the first time that the 66-year-old has been summoned to answer questions relating to the ongoing 1MDB probe.

According to a paper trail revealed by the former Attorney-General in January 2016, several credit card transactions linked to SRC International was made by Najib in December 2014.

The transactions were allegedly payments for his wife's shopping in luxury goods, which included handbags and jewellery.

Lawyers acting for Rosmah Mansor said the ex prime minister’s wife did not receive any payment into her bank accounts. The credit cards were not under her name. It’s been over two hours , the session with MACC continues pic.twitter.com/p7GMNXTh3t — Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) June 5, 2018

Additional reporting by Melissa Goh.

KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, gave her statement on Tuesday (Jun 5) at the headquarters of the anti-graft commission on investigations into a former unit of state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

She was quizzed for about four hours by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in their probe into a suspicious transfer of about US$10.6 million into Najib's personal bank account that has been traced to the former 1MDB unit SRC International.

SRC International was set up in 2011 by the previous Barisan Nasional government and was a unit of the scandal-plagued 1MDB before it was placed under the Finance Ministry in 2012.

"Datin Rosmah gave her utmost cooperation during the process and was treated well by investigation officers," Rosmah's legal team told the media after her questioning by the MACC.

K Kumaraendran , lawyer for Rosmah Mansor said MACC has completed recording statement from his client . She’s rendered her full cooperation and was treated well by officers pic.twitter.com/Al0jaCorib — Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) June 5, 2018

They added that MACC officers had completed recording her statement and that she will "extend further cooperation" as and when it is sought.

The nature of the questioning was not made public and Rosmah's lawyers refused to answer any further questions from the media.

But Abdul Razak Idris, former investigations and intelligence director at the MACC, earlier told AFP that Rosmah would likely "be asked to reveal her bank accounts and explain about the source of the cash and jewellery found by police in two condominiums recently."

LUXURY-LOVING

Known for her love of luxury clothes and handbags, Rosmah arrived at the MACC headquarters at about 10.43am in a three-car convoy.

Flanked by security guards and her lawyers, she stepped out of a silver Mercedes carrying a bright red handbag that appeared to be a model made by Italian luxury fashion brand Versace. Rosmah was accompanied by her daughter Nooryana Najwa.

Another of her lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent said Rosmah was only quizzed for two hours plus . Will extend further cooperation as and when she’s sought by MACC pic.twitter.com/HnVAoJB6LG — Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) June 5, 2018

Najib, defeated in a stunning election loss last month by his mentor-turned-rival, Mahathir Mohamad, has become the subject of a money-laundering probe.

Billions of dollars were allegedly stolen from the 1MDB fund - founded by Najib - with the money used to buy items ranging from Picasso artworks to high-end real estate.

Both Najib, who gave gave statements to the MACC least month, and the fund have consistently denied any wrongdoing. He and Rosmah have been barred from leaving the country.

Attention has focused on Rosmah after police discovered hundreds of luxury handbags and a stash of jewellery and cash during raids on apartments linked to Najib and his family.

Malaysian police have said cash of RM114 million (US$28.6 million) and more than 400 handbags were seized. Experts were being brought in to value the jewellery, watches and other seized items.

Earlier on Tuesday, some lawyers representing Najib and Rosmah on the SRC case said they had quit.

M Puravalen, a lawyer acting for Najib and Rosmah in connection with the SRC investigations, told Reuters on Tuesday he had "ceased acting" for Najib and Rosmah.

He said a second lawyer, Yusof Zainal Abideen, had also quit. News site The Malaysian Insight reported that Puravalen, Abideen and other members of their legal team had walked out because they failed to reach common ground with Najib on several issues.

Abideen could not be reached immediately reached for comment.

PETALING JAYA: When Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrives at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya today, it will be the first time that the wife of a former prime minister has been called to give a statement to the authorities over a corruption probe.

Rosmah is scheduled to have her statement taken by MACC officers at 11am, about two weeks after her husband Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was questioned in the investigation related to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed that MACC would be recording Rosmah’s statement on the matter.

“Yes, the notice has been given to her and she needs to be present tomorrow (Tuesday) to facilitate investigations,” he told Bernama.

SRC International was a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which was subsequently placed under the Finance Ministry in 2012.

On Jan 26, 2016, the media quoted Attorney General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali as saying that no criminal offence was committed by Najib in cases involving an alleged RM2.6bil donation and funds from SRC International.

Meanwhile, the scene at Najib’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta was quiet yesterday.

The crowds of reporters that once thronged the area had dwindled to a handful.

But many cars were seen coming in and out of the residence, which might indicate activity in relation to Rosmah’s questioning.

A vehicle believed to belong to Rosmah’s lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent was seen leaving the house after nearly two hours there.

A man said to be Geethan was seen having a discussion with another man outside the house after his visit before the vehicle left at 4.40pm.

Najib’s Toyota Vellfire MPV was also spotted leaving the place at about 9.30am before returning two hours later.

Cars with similar number plates as Najib’s car were seen entering and leaving the compound multiple times, although their occupants could not be seen.

Najib has so far been questioned three times by MACC over SRC International.

On Dec 5, 2015, MACC took a statement from Najib over its probe into SRC and the RM2.6bil deposited into his personal account.

He was questioned again for five hours on May 22 and called back on May 24 for further questioning.

Yesterday, Najib wrote on Facebook that Ramadan is also a month for “penginsafan (repentance) and to value the meaning of blessings”.

“Whatever the challenges, remember God’s message in Surah al-Baqarah: ‘Know that God’s help is near’.”

The wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was questioned Tuesday by the anti-graft agency over alleged theft and money-laundering involving the 1MDB state investment fund, as Najib’s lawyers said they had pulled out.

The spotlight is now on Rosmah Mansor after police last month raided two properties linked to Najib and his family as part of an investigation into his role in the 1MDB scandal - seizing bags of cash, jewellery and hundreds of designer handbags.

Rosmah, 66, is widely reviled in Malaysia for her reported luxurious tastes and imperious manner. She last month issued a statement lashing out at media coverage of the police raids, calling them a “premature public trial”.

Known for her love of luxury clothes and handbags, Rosmah arrived for questioning in a three-car convoy.

Flanked by security guards and lawyers, she stepped out of car carrying a bright red handbag that appeared to be a model made by Italian luxury fashion brand Versace.

Following her departure from the agency headquarters, her lawyers said anti-graft investigators had completed recording her statement after a session lasting over three hours during which she gave her “utmost cooperation”.

The nature of the questioning was not made public, however earlier reports said Rosmah was expected to give a statement on the suspicious transfer of about US$10.6 million into Najib’s personal bank account that had been traced to the former 1MDB unit SRC International.

Billions of dollars were allegedly stolen from the 1MDB fund - founded by Najib - in a sophisticated fraud that stretched from Singapore to Switzerland, with the money used to buy items ranging from Picasso artworks to high-end real estate.

Both Najib and the fund have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Rosmah spent nearly five hours in the building before leaving in a silver Mercedes-Benz.

“Our client will extend further cooperation as and when sought by the agency,” lawyer K. Kumaraendran told gathered media in a prepared statement.

Former prime minister Najib has seen a swift fall from grace since he was defeated by a reformist coalition led by his former mentor, Mahathir Mohamad, in elections last month.

Voter anger at claims of corruption tied to Najib and a rise in living costs were among major factors in the shocking defeat of the ruling coalition, which had been in power for over six decades.

Najib himself was questioned by anti-graft officers twice last month. Both he and his wife have been banned from leaving the country.

Earlier on Tuesday, some lawyers representing Najib and Rosmah on the SRC case said they had quit.

M. Puravalen, a lawyer acting for Najib and Rosmah in connection with the SRC investigations, said he had “ceased acting” for Najib and Rosmah.

He said a second lawyer, Yusof Zainal Abideen, had also quit.

Ex PM Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor has just registered with MACC reception ,now on way to see IO probing corruption case involving SRC Intl pic.twitter.com/MvJUvAgv7k — Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) June 5, 2018

He denied reports that they quit because of disagreement over the 1MDB case but declined to elaborate.

News site The Malaysian Insight reported that Puravalen, Abideen and other members of their legal team had walked out because they failed to reach common ground with Najib on several issues.

Abideen could not be reached immediately reached for comment.

The luxury-loving Rosmah is often compared with Imelda Marcos, who left behind more than a thousand pairs of shoes after her husband, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, was ousted in 1986.

In raids over the past weeks, police have seized 114 million ringgit (US$28.6 million) in cash and more than 400 handbags. Experts were being brought in to value the jewellery, watches and other seized items.

1MDB is also the subject of money-laundering probes in at least six countries, including the United States, Switzerland and Singapore.

Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters

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