Malaysian leader faces fresh blow with wife under scrutiny

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities are investigating allegations that 2 million ringgit ($529,000) were deposited into the accounts of the wife of embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak earlier this year.

The allegation against Rosmah Mansor is another blow to Najib, who himself is being investigated on suspicion that hundreds of millions of dollars were funneled from state investment fund 1MDB into his personal accounts.

The Sarawak Report website reported Thursday that investigations into 1MDB showed the money was deposited into Rosmah's account in a local bank in eight transactions earlier this year.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said Friday the task force is aware of the allegation against Rosmah and that an investigation is underway.

Rosmah's lawyers say the news report is "menacing and false" and denied she took money from 1MDB.