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US$30m worth of 1MDB funds used to buy jewellery: US lawsuit

Published Fri, Jun 16, 2017 · 09:50 PM

Kuala Lumpur

NEARLY US$30 million of funds stolen from scandal-hit 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was used to buy jewellery for the wife of "Malaysian Official 1", according to the latest filings by the US Justice Department in a civil lawsuit.

The filings lodged at the US District Court in Los Angeles on Thursday did not identify the individual though Malaysian and US government sources have previously confirmed that "Malaysian Official 1" refers to Prime Minister Najib Razak who is married to Rosmah Mansor.

The diamond necklace set alone cost US$27.3 million, according to latest filings in a lawsuit that was launched in July last year.

The accusations will provide further ammunition for Mr Najib's political rivals, who often criticise his wife for lavish spending, and come at an awkward time for the Malaysian leader, as he had been expected to call a snap election later this year. Ms Rosmah's aide did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The prime minister's office, in a statement early on Friday, said it was "concerned by the unnecessary and gratuitous naming of certain matters and individuals that are only relevant to domestic political manipulation and interferen…

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