Authorities are recording statements from certain witnesses over Rosmah Mansor’s representation for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to drop 17 money laundering and tax evasion charges against her.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning that prosecutors are still considering her letter of representation.
“Concerning the representation, statements are being taken from some individual witnesses to complete investigations, so that we can come up with a thorough decision,” Akram told trial judge K Muniandy.
Today was initially set for the continued hearing of Rosmah’s bid to strike out the criminal charges against her.
However, the hearing has been postponed as the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is on medical leave.
Rosmah’s lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jalaluddin applied for the hearing to be adjourned as the presence of the accused is important during the substantive criminal case application.
Co-counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad concurred, adding that there is a need for the defence team to liaise and take instructions from her during the hearing of the striking-out application.
Akram told the court that the prosecution has no objections to the postponement bid.
Proceedings adjourned
Muniandy set March 1 for mention for prosecutors to update on the status of Rosmah’s representation as well as set a new date to hear her nullification bid if the representation is not successful.
Rosmah is on trial over 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, Kuala Lumpur, between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2018.
The money laundering charges are framed under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act.
Those convicted are 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 alleged 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 contravention of Section 112 of the Act.
Previously, the Kuala Lumpur High Court also convicted and sentenced Rosmah to 10 years in jail and a RM970 million fine in a corruption case linked to the solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
However, the High Court allowed a stay on the execution of the sentence pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal to quash the guilty verdict and sentence. - Mkini
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