Sarawak Report irresponsible, malicious - Rosmah's lawyers

The Sarawak Report article alleging that RM2 million was deposited into Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's account is irresponsible and done with malicious intent, her lawyers said today.

"The report was done with the intent to discredit, defame and reduce the credibility and integrity of the wife of the Prime Minister," a statement from the law firm Messrs Noorhajran Mohd Noor read.

The Sarawak Report yesterday alleged that a total of RM2 million was deposited into an account number which investigators have reported as belonging to “Rosmah Binti Mansor (Datin Sri)”.

The article cited documentation related to inquiries into 1MDB dealings between February 10 to April 23, 2015. It further confirmed that this particular bank account has now been placed under investigation related to inquiries about the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

In the statement, the law firm representing Rosmah also called on Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to conduct a probe within 72 hours and issue its findings into the unauthorised disclosure on the part of the bank.

"It is my client's view that failure by BNM to immediately conduct the said probe will erode the trust of investors and consumers of financial institutions," the firm said, adding it will also have negative perceptions on the regulations of financial institutions, payment systems and foreign exchange markets.

"The privacy and secrecy restrictions must be strictly adhered, to retain the integrity, security, respect and confidence of the Malaysian banking & financial systems and processes. Failure to curb the current negative trends may eventually spread to other related entities," the firm said.

Rosmah's lawyers are also urging the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take necessary action under the MCMC Act 1998 (Act 588) should the article's content be proven to be offensive and in breach of the law.

The firm also clarified that the bank account mentioned in the report is indeed Rosmah's personal account.

"It was opened in 1984 whilst my client was in employment with Island & Peninsular Sdn Bhd (Now known as I&P Group Sdn Bhd) for convenience. At the material time the location of the said Company and Perwira Habib Bank Bhd (formerly the name used by Affin Bank Berhad) was situated within the same building of Wisma Equatorial (as it was then) at Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL," the firm said.

"My client has not committed any criminal offence or misappropriation of funds and strongly denies any links to the funds being from 1MDB," the firm said.

The firm said the article is indecent, menacing, false and is intended to annoy and harass Rosmah.

Meanwhile, the special task force investigating the alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds said they already knew about Rosmah's account, even before it was reported by the portal.