15 witnesses to testify in Rosmah’s graft trial

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 15 witnesses are expected to testify in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial in May next year which involves RM7mil in money laundering and tax evasion.

High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan fixed 15 days for the trial during case management here yesterday.

The dates are May 12, June 28, June 30, July 6-7, July 27-28, July 31, Aug 1-2, Aug 11, Aug 24-25, and Sept 7-8.

The court also fixed Feb 20 for parties to update the decision of Rosmah’s appeal at the Court of Appeal to disqualify Justice Mohamed Zaini from presiding over the trial.

Deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn told the court that the prosecution would be calling 15 witnesses to testify.

Rosmah was represented by lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent.

The 70-year-old is facing 12 money laundering charges, involving RM7,097,750, and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Jalan Ampang, here, between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and at LHDN at Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, here, between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.

Rosmah’s bid to recuse Justice Mohamed Zaini from hearing the case is currently at the Court of Appeal stage.

In her recusal applications, Rosmah, among others, claimed that there was a danger of Justice Mohamed Zaini being prejudiced and biased against her if he presided over the money laundering case as he had already presided over her solar hybrid graft trial related to rural schools in Sarawak.

On Sept 1, the same judge found Rosmah guilty of three charges of corruption related to the solar hybrid project worth RM1.25bil for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, and sentenced her to 10 years in prison and a fine of RM970mil.