Wife of ex-Malaysian PM claims innocence in graft trial
Opening her defence, the former first lady said "it is I who should be a prosecution witness," according to local media reports.
- World
- DPA
- Published Date: 11:51 | 05 October 2021
- Modified Date: 11:51 | 05 October 2021
Opening her defence, the former first lady - whose husband has been convicted on corruption charges - said "it is I who should be a prosecution witness," according to local media reports.
Rosmah, 69, was forced to take the stand at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur after her application for a stay on proceedings was dismissed on Monday and an earlier attempt to have the lead prosecuting lawyer disqualified was also thrown out.
She is accused of receiving the equivalent of 1.6 million dollars in bribes linked to a project to supply electricity to hundreds of schools in the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo.
Husband Najib, who led Malaysia from 2009-18, was last year found guilty of corruption related to his time in office and sentenced to 13 years in jail. He remains free, pending an appeal, but faces four other related trials.
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