KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s money laundering and tax evasion trial involving RM7.1 million was vacated pending her representation letter to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Rosmah’s counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent said he had sent the letter on May 3 asking the AGC to drop all charges against his client.
“We have raised certain facts from Rosmah’s previous trial involving the school solar project in which the prosecution got the conviction.
“However, we have yet to receive any reply from AGC,” he said before High Court Judge Muniandy Kannyappan.
Representations are usually made to the AGC seeking the withdrawal or reduction of charges preferred against an accused.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib confirmed that they received the letter on the said date.
He said the prosecution needed at least two months to decide on the issue as the defence had raised serious legal points in the letter.
“I have yet to set an appointment with the Attorney-General (AG) and my superiors to brief them about the content of the representation.
“The defence has raised several new facts and issues… I need to prepare a new write-up to properly brief my superior.
“Due to the complexity issue in the latter, I need at least two months to get everything done. I have no objection to vacate the trial and I myself humbly apply at least give us two months to prepare,” he said.
Akram also informed the court that the prosecution was not ready to start the trial today. The court allowed the postponement and fixed Aug 24 for the next hearing.
Rosmah is facing 12 charges of money laundering involving RM7,097,750 and five charges of failing to declare her income to the IRB.
She is accused of committing the offences between Dec 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017.