KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): The prosecution in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's RM7 million money laundering and tax evasion case intends to call up to 14 witnesses in the trial, deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn said on Tuesday (Nov 29), when the matter came up for mention before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
"[We are looking at] 13 to 14 witnesses. It [may] take two to three weeks," he told the High Court judge. Earlier on Tuesday, the court had suggested for the trial to commence in February next year, but Revin Kumar, representing Rosmah, informed the court that counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, who is also representing the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, may not be available on those dates.
'Case ought to be given priority as it started in 2018'
The judge said he is aware that counsels would have their dates taken up by other matters, but reminded the parties that priority ought to be given to this case, given that it commenced in 2018.
"You have to give this case priority. You know why? Because it is a 2018 case, which means it is already four years old," Zaini pointed out.
The matter is set for further mention on Dec 1 for the parties to inform the court of their available dates for the trial.
Trial yet to begin as two recusal applications yet to be heard
As things stand, the trial has yet to begin, as Rosmah has filed two applications to recuse Zaini — who also presided over her RM1.25 billion solar hybrid graft case involving 369 rural schools in Sarawak — from presiding over the matter.
The High Court judge dismissed her first application on Dec 14 last year and the second on April 25. Rosmah is appealing against both decisions.
Both appeals were to be heard in the Court of Appeal last week. However, a three-member panel asked the parties to make further submissions on the matter, with case management on Dec 23.
In the recusal application, Rosmah claimed that there is a risk of the High Court judge being prejudiced and biased against her, given that he had presided over her solar hybrid graft case.
She also claimed that he could also be biased against her, as he had presided over other cases related to her family, namely the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) audit report tampering trial involving her husband, and the 1MDB assets forfeiture case involving Najib and other members of the family.
On Sept 1, Zaini found Rosmah guilty of three charges of graft related to the solar hybrid project, and sentenced her to 10 years in prison and a fine of RM970 million.
Rosmah is currently out on bail, pending her appeal in the Court of Appeal against the conviction and sentence.
In relation to her tax evasion and money laundering case, Rosmah faces 17 charges involving RM7.1 million that was transferred to her personal bank account between 2013 and 2017. The charges were framed under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
On the first eight counts, she is charged with money laundering by directly engaging in a transaction involving proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to RM1.1 million that were deposited into her account.
On the ninth to 12th counts, she is charged with directly engaging in 227 transactions involving proceeds of unlawful activities totalling RM6 million, which were also deposited into her account.
On the 13th to 17th counts, she is charged with engaging in money laundering by failing to file a return on the sum that was deposited into her account as required under the Income Tax Act 1967.