'Agreement reached' over Rosmah's bid to drop charges

An agreement has been “reached” between the attorney-general (AG) and Rosmah Mansor’s lawyers over her bid to withdraw 17 money laundering and tax evasion charges involving over RM7 million.

Her lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin and deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court today about the status of her letter of representation.

“I think since we have reached an agreement, I think it is resolved,” Firoz told judge K Muniandy as the wife of incarcerated former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak looked on.

The criminal court judge was asking whether Rosmah’s defence team wished to continue with the hearing of her application to strike out the charges.

“I confirm that the representation is reaching a final decision and it is now a matter of finalising documentation for the court,” Akram said.

Muniandy then set Sept 6 for the court to be notified of the outcome of Rosmah’s representation.

Her money laundering and tax evasion trial had previously been part-heard with prosecution witnesses taking the stand.

Rosmah’s charges

The full trial of the case first began on Aug 24 last year, with prosecutors arguing that she had made large deposits while not being gainfully employed.

Her case involved 12 money laundering charges involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

The offences were purportedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Ground Floor, 148 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between Dec 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017, and the IRB office at Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, KL, between May 1, 2014, and May 1, 2018.

The money laundering charges are framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act - and those convicted are punishable under Section 4(1) of the Act with a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the unlawful activity’s proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

The tax evasion charges under Section 77(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967 claim that Rosmah failed to furnish returns of her income for the 2013 to 2017 assessment years to the IRB director-general on or before April 30, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 without reasonable excuse, in contravention of Section 112 of the Act.

Previously, Rosmah was also convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail and an RM970 million fine by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in a corruption case linked to the solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

However, the High Court allowed a stay on the execution of the sentence pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal to quash the guilty verdict as well as the jail term and fine.

Her solar case appeal is set to be heard by the appellate court on Oct 23.

Court already ruled luxury items not from unlawful proceeds: Rosmah

AG still mulling Rosmah's third representation to drop charges

Rosmah seeks to recuse judge from 1MDB US$346m jewellery suit

Appellate court sets Oct 23, 24 to hear Rosmah’s appeal over graft conviction

Rosmah makes third bid for AG to drop money laundering, tax evasion cases