1MDB scandal
Rosmah and her husband's lavish lifestyle and extravagant purchases while Najib Razak was in power caused anger among the citizens in Malaysia. Following her husband's loss in the Malaysian 14th general election, the couple were under investigation into the 1MDB 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 named Najib and Rosmah as passengers of a private jet scheduled to leave from an airport near Kuala Lumpur for 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. Malaysian police 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. The police described it as the biggest seizure in Malaysian history.
A breakdown of the items seized included:
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 and Judith Leiber)
272 handbags from Hermès (Birkin bag)
MYR 116 million in over 26 different currencies.
Rosmah had 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 tied 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 set MYR2 million bail and ordered that she surrender her passport and not to approach any of the witnesses.
