Wife of former Malaysian PM charged with money laundering

Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appeared in the court on Thursday to face money laundering charges in a corruption scandal at the 1MDB state investment fund.

The former first lady who was detained by Malaysia's anti-graft agency on Wednesday has been slapped with RM2 billion for the bail. In addition to this, the court has also ordered her to surrender her passport and to not to interfere with the political witness in the case. 

Out of the total bail amount the court has asked Mansor to pay RM500,000 amount today, while the remaining will be paid by October 11.

The 66-year-old pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of money laundering.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the court that Rosmah "had approached a witness with a request to give a statement in her favour".

Rosmah who entered the court with a smile was also accompanied by her husband Najib Razak.

Najib appeared at the court building for the management of his own corruption trial over the 1MDB scandal.

He has pleaded not guilty and accused the government of seeking political vengeance.

Last Wednesday, anti-graft investigators spent nearly 13 hours recording Rosmah's statement as part of their inquiry into 1MDB.

The couple's world has been turned upside down since Najib lost the May election to his one-time mentor Mahathir Mohamad, who swiftly reopened a probe into 1MDB.

Corruption accusations have dogged Najib for years, and came to a head in 2015, when the Wall Street Journal reported that nearly $700 million in 1MDB funds was diverted to his personal bank account.

Rosmah, 66, has long been in the public eye over her penchant for handbags, jewellery and shopping sprees.

(With inputs from agencies)