Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts. The Malaysian High Court’s verdict comes a week after her husband was sent to jail over a multi-billion-dollar scandal involving state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad or 1MDB. The 70-year-old pleaded not guilty to three counts of soliciting bribes and accepting 6.5 million ringgit ($1.45 million) in exchange for helping a company secure a contract to supply solar power to rural schools. case…
Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for soliciting and accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts.
The Malaysian High Court’s verdict comes a week after her husband was sent to jail over a multi-billion-dollar scandal involving state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad or 1MDB.
The 70-year-old pleaded not guilty to three counts of soliciting bribes and accepting 6.5 million ringgit ($1.45 million) in exchange for helping a company secure a contract to supply solar power to rural schools. The case has nothing to do with the 1MDB scandal.
“Unproven defense”
High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said prosecutors had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt. He added that her defence was “blatantly denied and unsubstantiated”.
Mansor also faces a hefty fine of 970 million ringgit ($216.5 million). She can seek bail while appealing the sentence.
In addition, she faces 17 other charges of money laundering and tax evasion, for which she has also pleaded not guilty.
huge corruption
Razak and Mansoor have faced various charges since he lost an election in 2018 amid public outrage over the vast corruption in his administration.
After the election defeat, the couple tried to leave the country on a private jet. The country’s then-leader Mahathir Mohamad banned them from travelling.
Police raided several properties linked to Lhasa, revealing more details about their lavish lifestyle. Police seized hundreds of designer handbags, including 272 Hermès bags estimated to be worth nearly $13 million, as well as 1,400 necklaces, 423 watches, 2,200 rings, 1,600 brooches and 14 tiaras.
