A NEW judge will be hearing Rosmah Mansor’s charges of money-laundering and tax evasion, which will begin on May 12, her lawyer said.

The New Straits Times reported Geethan Ram Vincent as saying that High Court judge Muniandy Kannyappan will be hearing the case as the original judge, Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan has been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Geethan also said the trial is scheduled to begin on May 12. The prosecution will be calling 13 witnesses.

Rosmah is facing 12 money-laundering charges amounting to about RM7 million and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

She is accused of committing the offences at Affin Bank Bhd branch at Getah Asli building on Jalan Ampang, between December 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017 and at the IRB office in Jalan Duta branch, on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.

She was previously found guilty in her first trial for three corruption charges involving the RM1.25 billion project to supply solar hybrid energy to rural schools in Sarawak.

The matter had been heard before Zaini, who on September 1 last year sentenced her to 10 years’ jail for each of the charges, with the prison terms running concurrently.

He also ordered Rosmah, 70, to pay a fine of RM970 million, in default 30 years’ jail, but allowed a stay of execution while the latter awaits her appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Her husband Najib Razak is serving a 12-year jail sentence after being convicted in the SRC International case in August last year. – March 23, 2023.