Anti-corruption agency arrests Najib's wife

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 03 (Agencies): Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysia's former prime minister, was arrested on Wednesday by the country's anti-graft agency over a multi-billion-dollar scandal.

"Rosmah has been arrested," her lawyer K. Kumaraendran told AFP after she was questioned at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Her husband Najib Razak has been hit with a string of charges including corruption and money laundering.

Malaysia's anti-graft agency said on Wednesday that the wife of former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been arrested and will face money laundering charges in a graft scandal involving the 1MDB state investment fund.

The agency said Rosmah Mansor was detained at its headquarters in the Putrajaya government administrative center about four hours after she arrived for a third round of questioning over alleged theft and money laundering.

Rosmah will be brought to court Thursday to face "several charges" under the anti-money laundering act, it said in a brief statement, without giving details.

Rosmah's lawyer, K. Kumaraendran, confirmed her arrest but declined to comment.

Wearing a bright green traditional dress, Rosmah smiled at reporters but didn't speak as she was escorted earlier Wednesday into the agency's building.

She was first summoned by the agency on June 05 and again on Sept 26, when she was questioned for nearly 13 hours. Local media have reported that she could face up to 20 charges.

Najib himself has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of money laundering, corruption, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in the scandal and is to face trial next year.

Earlier Wednesday, Najib was questioned by the police commercial crime office over the 1MDB scandal. He dodged reporters waiting for him outside the building.

Rosmah, 66, is widely reviled for her opulent lifestyle and penchant for expensive jewelry and designer Birkin bags that led to her being compared with former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos and her extravagant collection of shoes.

Police found hundreds of luxury handbags, jewelry and cash - worth more than $266 million - during raids on apartments linked to the family shortly after Najib's shocking electoral defeat in May.

Seized goods include 567 handbags, 423 watches and 12,000 pieces of jewelry, including 1,400 necklaces, 2,200 rings, 2,800 pairs of earrings and 14 tiaras. Najib has said the items were mostly gifts to his family.