Riza Aziz was detained in Malaysia after questioning by graft investigators and will appear in court Friday to face charges, said Latheefa Koya, head of the anti-corruption agency.
Riza is the stepson of Malaysia’s disgraced ex-leader Najib Razak, and the son of the country’s former first lady Rosmah Mansor. Both Najib and Rosmah have been charged over the plundering of state fund 1MDB.
“I confirm [Riza] has been arrested today and was released on bail,” Latheefa told AFP, adding he would face charges under laws related to money-laundering.
A second agency official, who spoke anonymously, also said the arrest was linked to investigations into 1MDB.
Riza co-founded the Hollywood company Red Granite Pictures, and US officials allege that it was bankrolled by huge sums of pilfered 1MDB cash.
As well as the Wolf of Wall Street – a 2013 film about a massive stock market scam that netted its perpetrator millions of dollars – it produced the Jim Carrey movie Dumb and Dumber to and Daddy’s Home, starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
