KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pix) pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of money laundering and for not declaring her income of more than RM7 million to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) at the High Court today.
The case was heard before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan after being transferred from the sessions court.
There was a commotion in court after the interpreter made a mistake and told the judge that Rosmah had pleaded guilty to the fourteenth charge.
Rosmah and those in court were shocked, the interpreter apologised for the mistake and clarified that Rosmah had claimed trial.
The prosecution notified the High Court that it is seeking a joint trial for the charges of two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM1.5 million in relation to the solar energy project at 369 rural schools in Sarawak two years ago.
Former Federal court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram who was the lead prosecutor asked for a new mention date and said that the application will be done.
He added that all the documents pertaining case will be handed to the defence next month.
The court set Jan 25 for the mention.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and his son, Mohd Ashman were present in court.
On Oct 4, Rosmah claimed trial to 12 charges of money laundering involving about RM7 million at the sessions court and five counts for failing to declare her income to IRB.
This was related to RM7,097,750 which had been deposited into her own bank account.
She allegedly committed the offence at the Affin Bank Bhd branch of Bangunan Getah Asli, 148, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between Dec 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017.
The five remaining charges read that she allegedly engaged in money laundering.
This was because she had failed to furnish a tax return on the RM7,097,750 income deposited into her bank account, which she was required to do under the Income Tax Act 1967.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Inland Revenue Board, Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here on May 1 of each year between 2014 and this year.
