ROSMAH Mansor has filed a new application to recuse High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her money laundering and tax evasion trial.

This is the second time the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak has filed the application after Zaini – who is also the judge in Rosmah’s solar hybrid trial – had rejected her bid on December 14.

Rosmah’s counsel Reza Rahim informed the court that the latest recusal application was filed yesterday at 5pm.

“The latest recusal application is based on new grounds,” he said during the proceedings before justice Zaini today.

Rosmah is trying to have the trial postponed until the outcome of her appeal is decided.

Meanwhile, Rosmah’s other defence counsel, Geethan Ram Vincent informed the court that they would again be attempting to disqualify former federal court judge Gopal Sri Ram from acting as senior deputy public prosecutor in the case.

Geethan said the defence team made the decision to file the disqualification application after receiving a copy of Sri Ram’s appointment letter during proceedings today.

“We take the position that if this letter was general in nature, then well and good, but it specifically mentions he only be given authority to prosecute in two cases (two files collectively referring to the solar corruption case) against my client.

“The (money laundering and tax evasion) case before your lordship today was not spelt out here,” Geethan said.

Sri Ram said the prosecution would be objecting to Rosmah attempt to disqualify him, adding that his letter from the Attorney-General’s Chambers under section 376 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code had given him wide-ranging powers to prosecute any case.

“If it was the same accused, on the same grounds, therefore it is an abuse,” he said, adding that Rosmah’s previous attempt to disqualify him as a prosecutor in the solar hybrid case was already dismissed by Zaini, upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 6, last year.

However, Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, who also represents Rosmah, objected to Sri Ram’s use of the word ‘abuse’ and said Sri Ram should not be using the word.

“The fact is, the appeal (on the first application to disqualify Sri Ram in the solar hybrid case) is now fixed for hearing at the Federal Court and he (Sri Ram) shouldn’t use the word abuse because these are issues of law that my client should be allowed to take up, right or wrong.

“My client is entitled to her day in court for the matter to be heard afresh,” Firoz said.

Zaini then fixed January 24 to hear all Rosmah’s filings.

Rosmah is facing 12 money laundering charges involving more than RM7 million and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.

The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Jalan Ampang, between December 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017, and at the IRB at Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018. – Bernama, January 12, 2022.