Rosmah Mansor, the wife of imprisoned former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been acquitted of charges related to money laundering and tax evasion.
On Thursday, Malaysia’s High Court delivered the judgment, citing insufficient evidence to proceed with the case. The court’s ruling effectively cleared Rosmah of the charges, Reuters reports.
Since her husband’s unexpected defeat in the 2018 general election, both Rosmah and Najib have faced numerous investigations linked to corruption. Najib’s fall from power was partly driven by public outrage over his alleged involvement in the multi-billion-dollar scandal surrounding the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Both Rosmah and Najib have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Despite her acquittal on these specific charges, Rosmah remains entangled in legal challenges. She is currently out on bail as she appeals a 10-year prison sentence handed down in 2022 for accepting bribes to help a company secure a $279 million solar power project during Najib’s time in office.
Rosmah has faced widespread criticism in Malaysia for her lavish lifestyle, which included over 500 luxury handbags and 12,000 items of jewelry seized during police raids related to the 1MDB investigation.
The High Court ruling, as reported by Reuters, dismissed the money laundering and tax evasion charges due to a lack of legal merit.
In a livestreamed press conference following the decision, Rosmah expressed her gratitude for the acquittal, thanking her legal team and the judge. “This is what I call justice, and this is the kind of justice everyone deserves,” she said.
Her acquittal follows the recent dismissal of corruption charges against Najib in relation to 1MDB, which was attributed to procedural errors and the prosecution’s failure to disclose crucial documents.
Najib still faces several ongoing trials related to the 1MDB scandal, where it is alleged that $4.5 billion was embezzled through an elaborate international scheme between 2009 and 2014.
In 2022, Najib was convicted of corruption and money laundering, receiving a 12-year sentence, which was later reduced after a pardon board chaired by Malaysia’s king. Although Najib has apologized for his involvement in the scandal, he maintains he was unaware of any illicit activities surrounding the fund. He is now seeking to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
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