Rosmah Mansor


Rosmah binti Mansor is the second wife of former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak.

Personal life

She obtained a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Anthropology at the University of Malaya in 1974 and a master's degree in Sociology and Agriculture Extension at Louisiana State University in 1978. Upon graduating, Rosmah worked as an executive with Bank Pertanian Malaysia and subsequently as a business development manager with Island and Peninsular Bhd, a property developer company.
Rosmah was formerly married to Abdul Aziz Nong Chik. They have two children, Riza Aziz and Azrene Soraya. In 1987, she married Najib Razak and they have two children, Nooryana Najwa and Mohd Norashman, and have amassed a huge amount of wealth, which Rosmah claimed to have saved since childhood.

Allegations of corruption

1MDB scandal

Rosmah and her husband's lavish lifestyle and extravagant purchases while Najib was in power caused anger among the citizens in Malaysia. Following her husband's loss in the Malaysian 14th general election, the couple is under investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, in which over USD$7.5 billion went missing from the fund.
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. 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.
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.
A breakdown of the items seized includes:
The police described it as the biggest seizure in Malaysian history.

Lawsuit by Global Royalty Trading SAL

On 26 June 2018, Global Royalty Trading SAL, a jewellery firm based in Lebanon, filed a suit against Rosmah over a consignment of “missing” jewellery. It is seeking a mandatory order for the 44 jewellery, amounting to US$14,787,770 to be returned. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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. Undeclared imports are not permitted, and as a result, the jewellery could be seized.

Claims by Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery

Adi Hasan AlFardan Jewellery is the second high-end jeweller requesting the Malaysian police to return over US$5mil 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. The items consist of a necklace with 56 heart-shaped yellow diamonds weighing 10.7 carats, as well as 78 other smaller regular-coloured diamonds at the overall cost of US$2.248mil. Other items are the necklace and earrings set, fitted with yellow diamonds where the necklace consisted of cushion cut diamonds weighing 112.94 carats and the earrings weighed 17.84 carats. This set is worth US$3mil. 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.

Arrest and court proceedings

Rosmah has been summoned three times by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission 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, which led to her arrest on the same day.
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.
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.

Honours