Rosmah's lawyers cry foul over 'witness tampering' claim

Lawyers for former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor have cried foul over the prosecution's allegation that their client had tampered with potential witnesses.

The allegation was raised by lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today when he and Rosmah's legal team argued over the quantum of bail.

Gopal had cited the witness-tampering allegation as a reason to raise the quantum of the bail, which Rosmah's lawyers K Kumaraendran and Geethan Ram Vincent objected.

Speaking to reporters outside the court building, Geethan said it is inappropriate for the prosecution to make the allegation and tender a police report to the court that purportedly supports the claim.

“There was no opportunity to defend, you did not even investigate, and there was no opportunity to explain.

“So, it is not right to accept it just by listening to one party. What more when the person who is alleged to have been contacted did not lodge the police report,” he said.

Geethan said the police report was lodged by MACC last Friday.

Rosmah was charged with 17 counts of laundering the proceeds of unlawful activities this morning. She has claimed trial to all charges.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi said she found that the prosecution's request to set the bail at RM10 million to be too high, but the defence’s request of RM10,000 to be too low.

She set bail at RM2 million with two sureties and said RM500,000 of the sum must be paid today and the balance by Oct 11.

In addition, Rosmah is to surrender her passports and refrain from contacting any witnesses or potential witnesses.

Geethan said the coming proceedings would be a good opportunity for Najib's wife to clear her name.

Meanwhile, Kumaraendran said despite much talk that Rosmah would face 1MDB-related charges, the charge sheets merely made references to “proceeds of unlawful activities” without stating 1MDB.

Nevertheless, Geethan said, it was up to the prosecution to unfold their case, and his team would "take the case it as it comes".

-Mkini