Judge wants February start for Rosmah’s money laundering trial

 

Rosmah Mansor is accused of money laundering involving RM7.09 million and failing to declare her income to LHDN. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told today the prosecution in Rosmah Mansor’s money laundering and tax evasion case expects to call 13 or 14 witnesses to testify.

Deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn said this when the case was mentioned before Justice Zaini Mazlan.

“We need about 12 to 14 days to present our case,” he said.

In response, Zaini pointed out the case has been pending in court for four years already.

“Give this case priority, this is a 2018 case,” he said, adding that the court wished to fix hearing dates in February.

Lawyer Revin Kumar, representing Rosmah, told the court he needed to seek further instructions from lead counsel Geethan Ram Vincent on fixing trial dates.

The court fixed another case management on Dec 1 so both defence and prosecution can update it as to whether the trial can start in February.

Rosmah, who is the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, is facing 12 money laundering charges involving RM7.09 million and five charges of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

She previously failed in an application to recuse Zaini from hearing the case on grounds of possible bias. An appeal from that decision is pending before the Court of Appeal.

Zaini was also the judge who found Rosmah guilty of three corruption charges involving the RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools’ solar energy project on Sept 1.

The court sentenced Rosmah to 10 years in prison for each of the three charges and ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

She was also fined RM970 million. In default of payment, she will have to serve another 10 years in prison, after she completes her initial 10-year sentence.

Rosmah has been released on bail pending her appeal. - FMT