Rosmah denies VIP jail claims for Najib as IMDB legal battles continue

Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, on Dec 28 dismissed accusations that her husband receives special treatment in prison.

- Hazlin Hassan Malaysia Correspondent

Rosmah, 74, said Najib, who is serving a jail term over offences linked to the 1MDB financial scandal, is allowed basic activities such as exercise, but denied claims that he is housed under privileged conditions.

On Dec 22, the High Court dismissed Najib's judicial review to serve the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest. It said the alleged addendum order in 2024 by the then King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, was issued outside the constitutional framework and was therefore invalid and unenforceable.

Najib's lawyer, Mr Farhan Shafee, has since confirmed that an appeal was filed on Dec 24.

When asked if Najib has a room with air-conditioning to himself, Rosmah replied: "No, there isn't. It is the same."

"But it is not like there are six people in one room or anything," she said during an interview with The Straits Times and other media.

Rosmah said security precautions have been taken for his safety, but this does not amount to preferential treatment.