Rosmah Mansor, the luxury-loving wife of Malaysia's former prime minister, was Thursday charged with money laundering and tax evasion linked to a multi-billion-dollar scandal that helped bring down his government.
The 66-year-old pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of money laundering and tax evasion at a court complex where her husband Najib Razak was also making a separate appearance in connection with the alleged plunder of state funds.
Rosmah was allowed to post bail of two million ringgit ($480,00) and ordered to surrender her passport. She was also barred from contacting any witness.
Prosecutors had sought 10 million ringgit in bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, which could result in Rosmah spending the rest of her life in prison.
Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the court that Rosmah "had approached a witness with a request to give a statement in her favour".
In the charge sheets, prosecutors said "you engaged directly in a transaction that involves proceeds of unlawful activity" in violation of laws against money laundering.