Nov 22 set for Rosmah’s two appeals to recuse judge Zaini

 

The Court of Appeal has fixed Nov 22 to hear Rosmah Mansor’s two appeals to compel Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan to withdraw from her RM7 million money laundering and tax evasion trial.

When contacted by the media, deputy public prosecutor Poh Yin Tinn confirmed that the hearing of the two appeals is fixed at 9am on Nov 22.

“Parties are directed to file written submissions by Nov 8,” the prosecutor said over directions given by senior assistant Tan Chai Wei during case management today.

Rosmah’s appeals before the Appellate Court are over two failed bids, with the first one being denied by Zaini on Dec 14 last year, and the second bid was rejected on April 25 this year by the same judge.

Through both failed applications, Rosmah claimed that there is a risk of Zaini being prejudiced and biased against her.

Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, alleged that this bias was premised upon Zaini also hearing the separate and ongoing solar hybrid energy project corruption case against her.

She faces 12 money laundering counts 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 Inland Revenue Board (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 Amla, 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, if convicted.

The tax evasion charges under Section 77(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967, claim 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