Today’s scheduled hearing of Rosmah Mansor’s objection against deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram from representing himself against her bid to disqualify him from her RM7 million money laundering and tax evasion case has been vacated after one of her lawyers tested positive for Covid-19
Rosmah seeks to disqualify Sri Ram from prosecuting her money laundering and tax evasion criminal case, which has yet to come up for full trial.
The postponement was revealed in a copy of a letter issued from Rosmah’s lawyers from law firm Geethan Ram Advocates and Solicitors to the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday afternoon.
In the letter, the lawyers said that they sought for the court to vacate today’s matter because one member of the legal team tested positive for Covid-19.
The letter stated that the lawyer tested positive yesterday afternoon after spending time with other team members in open-court proceedings involving Rosmah’s money laundering and tax evasion case.
During yesterday’s proceedings before trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, not only were Rosmah and her lawyers present but also Sri Ram and other DPPs.
“In view of the situation, we seek for direction from the court regarding tomorrow’s (today) hearing as many of those in High Court 2 earlier today (yesterday) were in close contact (with the Covid-positive lawyer),” the law firm said.
When contacted this morning, Rosmah’s defence counsel Geethan Ram Vincent confirmed that today’s hearing had been vacated due to the Covid situation, adding that the court has yet to fix the next date for hearing.
Sri Ram, who was a former federal court judge and now a lawyer in private practice, was appointed by the AG to be senior DPP in Rosmah’s criminal case.
Zaini is not only presiding over Rosmah’s money laundering and tax evasion case, which has yet to go to trial, but her ongoing corruption trial linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Sri Ram is the lead DPP in both criminal court cases against Rosmah.
Rosmah, 70, faces 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750 and five charges of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
The offences were purportedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, ground Floor, 148 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between Dec 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017, and the IRB office at Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, KL, between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2018.
The money laundering charges are framed under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and punishable under Section 4(1) of the act, with a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the unlawful activity proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
The tax evasion charges under Section 77(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967 claimed that Rosmah failed to furnish returns of her income - for the 2013 to 2017 assessment years - to the IRB director-general on or before April 30, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 without reasonable excuse, in alleged contravention of Section 112 of the Act. - Mkini
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