PUTRAJAYA: The appeal filed by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to recuse High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her money laundering and income tax evasion case has been fixed for hearing at the Court of Appeal on March 17.
The date was fixed by deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron during case management on Friday (Dec 23).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn confirmed the date.
On Nov 23, a three-judge panel of the appellate court instructed the prosecution and the defence team to file further submissions in the appeal.
The panel said there was a preliminary point on the jurisdiction issue that should be dealt with first.
In her recusal application, 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.
In the money laundering and tax evasion case, Rosmah is facing 12 money laundering charges amounting to about RM7mil and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.
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.
Earlier this month, Justice Mohamed Zaini fixed a 15-day hearing for the trial beginning May 12.
