Rosmah files application to strike out money laundering, tax evasion charges

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pic) has filed an application to strike out all of the 17 money laundering and tax evasion charges she is currently on trial for.

In an application filed at the High Court here on Wednesday (Sept 6), she said the the charges against her are baseless, defective and premature.

Rosmah added in her affidavit in the filing ahead of case management for her trial on Wednesday (Sept 7) that a criminal court is not the suitable forum to determine whether the amount of money she received was taxable under the Income Tax Act.

“If the criminal court proceeds with its findings (whether the amount of money was taxable), the court will usurp the functions of the Special Commissioners of Income Tax (SCIT) which is an authorised body under a written law," she said.

“In any circumstances, I also have the substantive right to refer if the amounts are subject to the payment of tax to SCIT which is denied to me in these charges,” added Rosmah.

Rosmah, 71, is facing 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750, and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.

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

On Oct 4, 2018, she pleaded not guilty to all the charges at the Sessions Court.

On Sept 1 last year, the High Court convicted Rosmah on three counts of graft relating to the RM1.25bil solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

She was sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined RM970mil and is currently out on bail pending her appeal in the case.