Kuala Lumpur: The High Court here has acquitted Rosmah Mansor of her 17 money laundering and tax evasion charges without going through a trial.
Justice K Muniandy said the charges against the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak were illegal and flawed as they did not comply with provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code.
“The charges amounted to duplicity and multiplicity. Furthermore, they did not disclose any offence,” he said.
Muniandy said he was using his original jurisdiction and inherent power as trial judge to give the accused an acquittal and discharge.
Rosmah, 72, was standing trial on 12 money laundering charges involving RM7.09 million and five charges of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
Rosmah, who was accused of committing the offences between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, was charged on Oct 4, 2018.
She still has an appeal pending before the Court of Appeal over her conviction in the RM1.25 billion corruption case on a solar energy project for rural schools in Sarawak.
The appellate court will hear her appeal on March 5 to disqualify trial judge Zaini Mazlan, who convicted her in the case. If dismissed, the court will proceed to hear the merits of Rosmah’s appeal against her conviction and sentence on March 19.
In September 2022, Rosmah was sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined RM970 million after being found guilty of corruption in connection with the RM1.25 billion project.
