Rosmah Mansor

Rosmah and her husband's lavish lifestyle and extravagant purchases[3] while Najib Razak was in power caused anger among the citizens in Malaysia.[4][5] Following her husband's loss in the Malaysian 14th general election, the couple is under investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, in which over USD$7.5 billion went missing from the fund.[6]

On 12 May 2018, three days after her husband and then incumbent prime minister lost the general election, a flight manifest stated that Najib and Rosmah were taking a private jet to Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta.[7] In response, the Immigration Department, upon the orders of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, imposed a travel ban on Rosmah and her husband, barring their exit from the country.[8]

Since 16 May 2018, the Malaysian police have searched six properties linked to Rosmah and Najib as part of the investigation into the 1MDB scandal. They have seized 284 boxes filled with designer handbags, 72 large luggage bags containing cash in multiple currencies, and other valuables. The Malaysian police commissioner confirmed that the police seized goods with an estimated value of between US$223 and US$273 million.[9][10]

A breakdown of the items seized includes:

• 12,000 pieces of jewellery:
  • 2,200 rings
  • 1,400 necklaces
  • 2,100 bracelets
  • 2,800 pairs of earrings
  • 1,600 brooches
  • 14 tiaras
• 423 luxury wristwatches (notably from Rolex, Chopard and Richard Mille)
• 234 luxury sunglasses (notably from Versace and Cartier)
• 567 luxury handbags from 72 brands (notably from Chanel, Prada, Versace, Bijan, Kwanpen and Judith Leiber)[11]
  • 272 handbags from Hermès (Birkin bag)
• MYR 116 million in over 26 different currencies.

The police described it as the biggest seizure in Malaysian history.[12]

On 26 June 2018, Global Royalty Trading SAL, a jewellery firm based in Lebanon, filed a suit against Rosmah over a jewellery consignment. It alleged that the jewellery delivered to Rosmah on 10 February 2018 were for her to evaluate and thereafter purchase those she selected, and to return the remaining. On 22 May 2018, Rosmah had acknowledged receipt of the jewellery but in her statement claims that the items were no longer with her as they had been seized by the authorities. Global Royalty said if the items may not be recoverable or unrecoverable in full or in part, Rosmah will be held liable to pay the full cost.[13][14]

Since the jewellery were confiscated as part of 1MDB investigation, the Malaysian government will intervene in the lawsuit by a Lebanese jeweller against her. The case will begin hearing on 27 July 2018.[15]

In its statement of claim, Global Royalty Trading SAL alleged that Rosmah was a long-standing customer and that it would send consignments of jewellery to her on her demand.[16] This latest news created more resentment by Malaysians questioning how the wife of ex-Malaysian Prime Minister can afford to buy even one of the cheapest items on the list.[17]

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the delivery by Global Royalty Trading SAL of 44 pieces of jewellery linked to Rosmah Mansor were not declared to the Customs Department, as they should be for any import of valuable goods into Malaysia.[18] Undeclared imports are not permitted, and as a result, the jewellery could be seized.[19]

Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery is the second high-end jeweller requesting the Malaysian police to return over US$5mil (MYR20.69mil) worth of seized jewellery which was delivered to Rosmah in March 2018. According to the Dubai-based company, the jewellery were handed to Rosmah but the payment has not been made. Adi Alfardan was also reported to be escorted by officers from the Prime Minister office to bypass Malaysian Customs and Immigration checks during his four visits to deliver the jewellery to Rosmah. This set is worth US$3mil (MYR12.40mil). According to the law firm hired by Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery, they are waiting for further instruction from their client before considering taking legal proceedings against Rosmah.[20]

Rosmah has been summoned three times by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of money banked into her husband's account ties to the 1MDB scandal. The first was on 5 June 2018, where she was questioned for 5 hours; the second on 26 September 2018 for 13 hours; and the third was on 3 October 2018,[21][22] which led to her arrest on the same day.[23]

On 4 October 2018, Rosmah pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of money laundering involving about MYR7mil at the Sessions Court under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism and Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act. The court sets MYR2 million bail, ordered that she surrender her passport and not to approach any of the witnesses. The case will be heard on 8 November 2018.[24][25]

If Rosmah is convicted by the court, she might be facing a fine of up to MYR5 million, a maximum jail term of five years, or both, for offences committed before September 2014. For offences committed after September 2014, Rosmah could be looking at a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the sum of the proceeds of the unlawful activity or MYR5 million, whichever is higher.[26]

On 18 February 2021, Rosmah has been ordered to enter her defence over corruption charges involving a project to provide solar hybrid power for rural schools in Sarawak. Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against Rosmah on all three charges of soliciting and receiving bribes.[27][28][29]

On 23 December 2021, the High Court disallowed the prosecution's move to impeach Rosmah over contradictions between her evidence in her current corruption trial and her statement as recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during a money laundering investigation. Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said Rosmah has attempted to explain the differences in court.[30]

On 4 February 2022, Rosmah's bribery and corruption trial has been delayed once again as the final witness was unable to attend the court proceedings.[31] On 15 February 2022, Rosmah’s lead lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader has tested positive for Covid-19, and two of her other defence counsels had close contact with him. As a result, the Kuala Lumpur High Court postponed to Feb 23 her corruption trial linked to a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project.[32]

In a statutory declaration in his sedition trial in June 2008, Raja Petra said that he was "reliably informed" that Rosmah was one of three individuals who were present at the crime scene when Altantuyaa Shaariibuu was murdered on 19 October 2006.[33] Dr Shaariibuu Setev, the father of Altantuyaa Shaariibuu, has asked the police to conduct a thorough investigation into an allegation by Raja Petra saying the police should look seriously into the allegations as it might provide them with fresh evidence in their case.[34]

Raja Petra appeared to have distanced himself from the statutory declaration in a television interview with TV3, saying its accusations linking Najib and Rosmah to the murder were repeating information passed onto him by opposition figures, rather than information he knew to be true himself.[35] He appeared to have stated that he did not genuinely believe that Rosmah was at the murder scene.[36] The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement alleged that the interview had been heavily edited and spin doctored in favour of Prime Minister Najib Razak just in time for the upcoming Sarawak state elections.[37][38] Raja Petra also denied that he did not believe Rosmah was at the scene saying that the interview was "chopped up".[39] He also later clarified and pointed out that he had always been consistent in relation to the statutory declaration, saying that he had never directly accused Rosmah of being at the scene of the murder, merely repeating what was told to him.[40][41]

Rosmah comment on Japan's quake-tsunami disaster[42]

Japan's earthquake and tsunami is a result of negligence in conducting environmental-friendly developments.

To me, this is a lesson to other countries, that in everything they do or in whatever development they plan, they should study the surrounding environment and connect it with climate change and green technology.

On 21 January 2012, in the 'Private Sydney' section of the Australian daily Sydney Morning Herald , columnist Andrew Hornery called Rosmah the “first lady of shopping”, allegedly for spending A$100,000 (RM325,000) at a Sydney boutique.[43]

On 26 January 2012, PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), urging it to investigate allegations that Rosmah is a profligate shopper while holidaying in Australia.[44]

On 30 March 2016, the Wall Street Journal, Time and several other news agencies reported that Najib and Rosmah had spent $15 million on luxury goods and extravagant travel expenses.[45] During Najib's golf diplomacy with U.S. President Barack Obama on 24 December 2014, Malaysian investigation documents show that Rosmah had purchased items amounting to $130,625 at a Chanel store in Honolulu, Hawaii. The allegation was confirmed when a store employee at the Chanel store in the upscale Ala Moana Center recalls Rosmah shopping there just before 25 December 2014.[46]

On 15 October 2021, Rosmah has been allowed to temporarily retake her passport so that she can travel to Singapore to visit her pregnant daughter who is expected to give birth soon.[47] Rosmah was expected to return her passport by December 6 and was to return to Malaysia by November 21. However, when the date of her court hearing rolled around on December 2, Rosmah did not show up in court, as she was still in Singapore.[48] The youth wing of Malaysian political party Bersatu called for Rosmah's passport to be cancelled, and for her to be brought back into Malaysia immediately.[49]

•  Kedah :
  • Knight Grand Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Royal House of Kedah (SSDK) – Dato' Seri (2006)[50]
•  Kelantan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Life of the Crown of Kelantan (SJMK) – Dato' (2005)[50][51]
•  Malacca :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Premier and Exalted Order of Malacca (DUNM) – Datuk Seri Utama (2010)
•  Negeri Sembilan :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Grand Order of Tuanku Jaafar (SPTJ) – Dato' Seri (2006,[50] revoked 26 October 2018[52])
•  Pahang :
  • Grand Knight of the Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) – Dato' Sri (2004)[50][53]
•  Sabah :
  • Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (2009)[50][54]
•  Sarawak :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (2010)[50][55]
•  Selangor :
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Selangor (SPMS) – Datin Paduka Seri (2005,[50] suspended 6 May 2019[56])