Wife of ex-Malaysian PM Najib arrested on money laundering charges

Rosmah Mansor (C), wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, arrives for questioning at the headquarters of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in the administrative center of Putrajaya, Malaysia, Oct. 3, 2018. Rosmah Mansor was detained by the MACC on Wednesday, and is to be charged with money laundering related to the state investment company 1MDB. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)

Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday, and is to be charged with money laundering related to the state investment company 1MDB.

Rosmah was arrested after five hours of questioning at the MACC headquarters in the administrative center of Putrajaya, the anti-graft body said in a statement.

"The commission has arrested Rosmah Mansor in connection with laundering money investigation after having secured permission from the Attorney-General's Chambers to press charges," the statement said, adding that Rosmah will be brought to court on Thursday to face charges related to the anti-money laundering law.

Local media reported that Rosmah could faces up to 20 charges, mostly under the country's anti-money laundering law in connection to receiving funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad(1MDB).

Meanwhile, her husband Najib faces more than 30 charges in connection with 1MDB and SRC International, involving hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars deposited into his personal account.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing and pledged not guilty to all the charges.