Dec 14 hearing for Rosmah’s application to recuse judge

The High Court will hear on Dec 14 an application by Rosmah Mansor to recuse High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from hearing her case on money laundering and tax evasion.

Rosmah, 69, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, filed the application on Nov 2.

Her lawyer, Geethan Ram Vincent, said the application would be heard before Zaini.

“The court ordered the applicant (Rosmah) to file a written submission on Dec 3, and the respondent (public prosecutor) to file it on Dec 10. Both parties have to file their counter submissions on Nov 19 and 26, respectively,” he told reporters after case management before High Court deputy registrar Catherine Nicholas today.

Also present was deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Thinn.

The lawyer said the court also set Dec 14 for the first day of hearing of the money laundering case, to be continued next year on Jan 10 to 13 and Jan 24 to 27.

Poh confirmed the matter.

Rosmah filed the application on grounds that Zaini is the judge presiding over her corruption case involving a solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

She claimed that statements and exhibits tendered before the court in the solar case could directly or indirectly influence Zaini if he were to preside over the money laundering case.

On Feb 18, Zaini ruled that the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Rosmah, and ordered her to enter her defence in the graft case, the proceedings of which are to resume on Dec 8.

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

The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, ground floor, 148 Jalan Ampang between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and LHDN, Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.