The Full Story Behind The RM110 Million Penthouse Rosmah's Son Bought

"Wolf Of Wall Street" Producer Reacts To Allegations That Its Financing Is Sourced To Embezzled Foreign Money

Riza Aziz, Jho Low and Joey McFarland at the launch of 'Wolf Of Wall Street' starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Image via Sarawakreport

On Tuesday, 29 April 2014, the production house of Riza Aziz and Joey McFarland demanded that a Los Angeles Superior Court judge reject a racketeering claim made by Brad Krevoy and Steve Stabler, producers of the 1994 hit Dumb and Dumber.

According to Red Granite's demurrer motion, its legal adversaries have 21 days to withdraw the RICO claim -- which it says was brought "solely to harass Defendants, smear their reputations, and pressure Red Granite into settling the contractual dispute with them on favorable terms" -- and if that doesn't happen, Red Granite will be filing a motion for sanctions.

In March 2014, Producers Of 1994 Hit "Dumb And Dumber" Filed An Amended Complaint That Attacked Najib's Stepson Aziz And His Partner Over Investments From The Middle East And Asia

Brad Krevoy and Steve Stabler, producers of the 1994 film Dumb and Dumber, are suing production company Red Granite pictures for excluding them in the upcoming sequel to the hit comedy.

"Red Granite is funded with monies that include proceeds from offenses against a foreign nation that involve bribery of public officials, or misappropriation, theft, or embezzlement of public funds by a public official," the complaint reads.

"[Aziz and McFarland have] engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, in that they have engaged in multiple financial transactions within the United States - including financing of 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and then separately financing Dumb and Dumber To...with knowledge that the transactions were designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the proceeds of the illegal activity."

These events were shortly followed by the resignation of Red Granite’s most experienced and well-known staff member the Production President Joe Gatta.

"The transactions were designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the proceeds of the illegal activity." - Krevoy and Stabler, producers of "Dumb And Dumber"

Rosmah's Son Riza Aziz Dropped From "The Wolf Of Wall Street" Oscars

"The soaring Hollywood career of the PM’s stepson Riza Aziz has crashed back down to earth, with news from Los Angeles that the Academy Awards committee have decided to remove his name from the list of nominations for producer of the best film."

Riza Aziz dropped from Oscars

Image via Deadline

Riza’s partner in production firm Red Granite Pictures, Joey McFarland, remains on the list and was joined by director Martin Scorsese and lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who were added by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The move was seen as unusual as the Academy customarily accepts recommendations by the PGA for nominees, and is believed to stem from the former organisation’s rule that producers are those “who have performed the major portion of the producing functions.”

(From left) Producer Riza Aziz and cast members Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill and producer Joey McFarland arrive for the UK premiere of The Wolf of Wall Street at Leicester Square, in London last week. – Reuters pic, January 14, 2014.

Image via themalaysianinsider.com

Aziz won’t be contesting the Academy’s decision and Red Granite just released a statement to Deadline: “We are thrilled that the Academy has recognized the invaluable contributions of Marty, Leo, Joey and Emma on behalf of The Wolf Of Wall Street. Riza Aziz and Red Granite remain honored to be part of the production.”

Operator Of Sarawak Report Sent Letter Of Demand For Questioning Najib's Stepson's RM110M Apartment And So She Sent That Letter To BuzzFeed

A letter of demand was issued to Clare Rewcastle-Brown, the operator of the Sarawak Report, that accused her of publishing “false, defamatory and malicious” statements regarding Red Granite Pictures, the production house at which Riza is chief executive.

Photo of Clare Rewcastle-Brown.

Image via sarawakreport.org

Lawyers for the film and production house Red Granite Pictures sent Rewcastle Brown, who was barred from entering Malaysia last July, a five-page letter demanding that she retract her article.

The letter, by lawyer Sunny Brener, accused Rewcastle Brown of writing an “irresponsible, shoddy, malicious screed that was clearly concocted by a writer or writers (and/or editor or editors) intent on pressing a transparent, political agenda”.

The Sarawak Report Founder - British Journalist Clare - Shared The News With Buzzfeed Which Reported The Matter

BuzzFeed published news of Clare Recastle-Brown being sued.

Image via imgur.com

A screen shot of the letter received by Clare Rewcastle-Brown.

Image via imgur.com

"The letter demands that Brown retract the piece and also get other media outlets who wrote about the piece to retract their versions, or face litigation."

Brown, a sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is an independent journalist and leading critic of the Malaysian government and has been the subject of a denial-of-service attacks as well as being barred from entering Malaysia in July.

How Did Rosmah's Son Afford A RM110 Million Penthouse And Bankroll A Major Hollywood Movie?

Riza Aziz, Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio and Joey McFarland at 'The Wolf of Wall Street' premiere in London.

Image via Zimbio

Doing his own calculation based on his similar working experience, Rafizi Ramli said it was illogical for Rosmah Mansur's son Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz to afford a RM110 million penthouse in New York, and more so, bankroll a major Hollywood movie.

For sake of public interest, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stepson should disclose the angel financiers behind his rise in Hollywood and how he is able to afford a RM110 million New York penthouse, PKR says.

"Knowing where the money comes from can (help clear) the public suspicion that the money comes from the family."

It was a concern to many Malaysians as people cannot otherwise comprehend how the families of public officials could live beyond their means, while they struggle with price hikes of basic goods.

Rosmah's 36-Year-Old Son Reportedly Paid RM110 Million For A Penthouse In New York

The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, is in the limelight again, following a report by whistleblower portal Sarawak Report that her 36-year-old son paid US$33.5 million (RM110 million) for a penthouse in New York last year.

Riza Aziz (born Riza Shahriz Bin Abdul Aziz) is the son of Rosmah from an earlier marriage.

Image via twimg.com

According To Reports, Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz (Rosmah's Son From An Earlier Marriage) Bought A 7-Room Property On 63rd Street In Park Laurel

Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, Rosmah's son from an earlier marriage, reportedly bought the seven-room property at 63rd Street in Park Laurel, New York.

Riza Aziz and the Park Laurel spread.

Image via therealdeal.com

The Sarawak Report, citing a New York real estate site The Real Deal, claimed that Riza bought the property on November 19 last year.

According To The Real Deal, "The 15-Room Duplex Has 7,728 Square Feet Of Interior Space...Sound Proofing, Heated Marble Mosaic Floors...And A Private Elevator Entrance."

The 15-room duplex has 7,728 square feet of interior space as well as a 1,244-square-foot terrace. It includes an AMX smart home system with integrated security control, solar window shades, sound proofing, heated marble mosaic floors in the bath and shower and a private elevator entrance.

Aziz, whose company is currently producing Martin Scorsese’s “Wolf of Wall Street,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, closed on the penthouse unit November 19, records show. The sellers were Peter Edward Chadney and Simone Cecile Von Graffenried Simperl, both residents of Switzerland. Neither of the parties could be reached for comment. An attorney for the sellers declined to comment.