The charges are 12 counts of money laundering and five counts for tax evasion.
- Charges nothing to do with 1MDB
- Paid RM500k bail today, balance RM1.5 million by Oct 11
- Surrendered two passports
- Ordered not to intimidate witnesses in the case
- Lawyer to apply for case to be transferred to High Court
Former prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today to 12 counts of money laundering, involving RM7,097,750, and five counts for failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.
Both types of offences are covered under the anti-money laundering law.
Rosmah made the plea after all the charges were read out to her one by one by two court interpreters before judge Azura Alwi.
The money laundering charges carry a penalty of up to 15 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the value of the proceeds of any illegal transfers, or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
Prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram said these were non-bailable offences and that she had approached a witness to ask them to give a statement in her favour.
“The principle, therefore, is they would not be granted (bail) where there is a real danger of witnesses being tampered with,” Gopal Sri Ram told the court.
In rebuttal, lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent said: “She is wife to former prime minister. She has been called by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission three times (on June 5, Sept 26 and Oct 3) and each time she has never failed to attend and give her full-cooperation.”
He added that Rosmah had no prior offences and this was her first time in court.
Gopal then urged the court to impose an RM10 million bail.
However, the court allowed bail of RM2 million with two sureties on all charges.
Rosmah was allowed to pay RM500,000 of the bail today and the balance before Oct 11.
She was also ordered to surrender her two passports to the court and to not intimidate witnesses in the case.
Her lawyer K Kumaraendran said they would apply for the case to be transferred to the High Court, to which Gopal said there was no objection.
Kumaraendran said this would be done by Nov 6.
The judge then set Nov 8 for the next mention.
Rosmah was seen waving to her friends and family members as she walked back to the witness room.
According to Kumaraendran, the 17 money laundering and tax evasion charges against Rosmah have nothing to do with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
“So many of these (media reports) are about 1MDB, 1MDB. Nothing stated in the charges is about 1MDB,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur court complex after Rosmah was released on bail today.
“Have you got it?” he said, adding that the bail amount requested by the prosecution is “unreasonable”.
“It has never been done before, taking into consideration that the charges already amount to RM7 million.”
He said the defence has no issues with the conditions set for Rosmah to be granted bail – surrendering her passports, and the order not to make contact with witnesses.
“There is no problem with regard to that. This is a good opportunity for Rosmah to come forward and clear her name.”
Related reports:
Oct 4, Power Couple’s Day in Court
Oct 3, MACC Arrests Rosmah, to be Charged with Money Laundering Tomorrow
Sept 28, Cops to Summon Najib, Rosmah for Commercial Crime Probe on 1MDB
Sept 26, Rosmah Leaves MACC HQ After More Than 12 Hours of Questioning
Sept 25, MACC Calls Rosmah for Questioning Tomorrow, May Face Arrest
Sept 18, Rosmah May Face up to 20 Criminal Charges Very Soon