ROSMAH Mansor’s two appeals to disqualify High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her money laundering and tax evasion case will be heard on March 17 next year in the Court of Appeal.

Rosmah, the wife of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak, is appealing two Zaini rulings, in which he dismissed Rosmah’s first application on December 14, 2021, and her second on April 25 this year.

Deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn said Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron fixed the hearing date after case management was conducted through video conference today.

Last month, a three-member appellate court bench deferred the hearing because the court wanted the defence and prosecution to file further submissions on whether it had the jurisdiction to hear the case.

Rosmah, 70, is facing 12 counts of laundering RM7.01 million and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). She denies all charges.

The offences were allegedly committed at Affin Bank, 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.

Meanwhile, on September 1, Zaini found Rosmah guilty of three charges of corruption over the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project, and sentenced her to 10 years in prison and a fine of RM970 million.

The court also ordered Rosmah to be jailed for 30 years if she fails to pay the fine. However, the High Court granted a stay of execution of the prison sentence and fine pending her appeal. – Bernama, December 23, 2022.