KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – The Sessions Court here reported that nearly 99.9 per cent of documents relating to the former wife of former prime minister Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who was charged with 17 charges involving money laundering and failed to make a statement to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has been handed over to the defense in the case.
The former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram told the court that he led the prosecution team on the case recount proceedings today before Judge Azura Alwi.
“We have submitted a document under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code to the defense,” said Sri Ram.
Meanwhile, Datuk K. Kumaraendran, a lawyer representing Rosmah, informed that he had received 600 pages of documents relating to the case on Oct 30 last year.
“We recommend a month for mention. We have not had the opportunity to review the document, “he said, adding that only one document has yet to be obtained, which is a bank statement.
The defense also informed that it would apply to transfer the case to the High Court in the near future.
Azura then set Dec 6 as the date for mention of the case.
Rosmah, 67, dressed in a yellowish orange dress with her scarf looks calm at the dock and during the proceedings, a woman maid is seen to have placed a small cushion as a backdrop behind Rosmah.
When met by reporters outside the court, another lawyer representing Rosmah, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, said he would file an application to transfer the case to the High Court as soon as possible before Dec 6.
On Oct 4, Rosmah pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here on 12 counts of involvement in money laundering amounting to RM7,097,750 and five counts of failing to make statement of claims to IRB.
Under the first charge of up to eighth charge, Rosmah was alleged to have been involved in money laundering, involving direct involvement in transactions that involves proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM1.1 million, was included in Rosmah’s Affin Bank Berhad account.
She was alleged to have committed the offense at Affin Bank Berhad, the Natural Rubber Building Branch, Ground Floor, 148 Jalan Ampang here between Dec 4 and June 8, 2017.
She was charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Prevention Financing of Terrorism Act 2001 which is punishable under Section 4 (1) of the same Act which provides for a fine not exceeding RM5 million or imprisonment exceeding five years or both, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, for the nine to 12 counts, Rosmah was alleged to have been directly involved in 227 transactions involving proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM5,997,750 which was included in Rosmah’s Affin Bank Berhad account.
The ninth to 12th counts are made under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Financing and Revenue from the Illegal Activity 2001 punishable under Section 4 (1) of the same Act which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from the illegal activity or equipment of the offense at the time the offense is committed or RM5 million, or whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Rosmah also pleaded not guilty to five counts of failing to make a statement on income to the IRB director-general.
Under the 13th to 17th counts, she was allegedly involved in a transaction involving proceeds from an illegal activity failed to make a return on income, all amounting to RM7,097,750.00 which was included in her Affin Bank Berhad account between Dec 4 2013 and June 8, 2017.
As required under Section 77 (1) of the Income Tax Act 1967 to submit a return for the year of assessment between 2013 and 2017 to the Director General of Inland Revenue on or before 30 April 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 with no reasonable cause contrary to Section 112 of the Income Tax Act 1967.
She was charged with committing the offense at the Inland Revenue Board, Government Building Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here from May 1, 2014 to May 1, 2018.
For the 13th charge, Rosmah was charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Prevention Financing of Terrorism Act 2001 which could be punished under section 4 (1) of the same Act which imposes a fine not exceeding RM5 million or imprisonment exceeding five years or both, upon conviction.
For the 14th to 17th counts, she was charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Prevention of Terrorism Financing and Revenue from Illegal Activity 2001 which carries a maximum jail sentence of 15 years and a fine of not more than five times the amount or the value of the proceeds from the illegal activity or equipment of the offense at the time the offense is committed or RM5 million whichever is higher.
– BERNAMA
