Rosmah charged with 17 counts of money laundering involving RM7 mln

Story updated at 1.17pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here 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.

Rosmah Mansor, 67, who was in orange “baju kurung” and a matching “selendang” (shawl) and handbag, made the plea after all the charges were read out to her one by one by two court interpreters before judge Azura Alwi.

The court allowed her bail of RM2 million with two sureties on all charges.

She was also ordered  to surrender her two passports to the court and to not intimidate witnesses in the case.

The court also allowed Rosmah, represented by a panel of lawyers led by Datuk K. Kumaraendran, to pay RM500,000 of the bail today and the balance, before Oct 11.

Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram is leading the prosecution team and the court set Nov 8 for mention.

On the first to the eighth count, Rosmah was alleged to have been involved  in money laundering by directly engaging in the transaction that involved proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to RM1.1 million which was deposited into her account (number 100020000058)  at Affin Bank Berhad.

She was alleged to have committed the offence at Affin Bank Berhad, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, ground Floor, 148 Jalan Ampang here between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017.

The charges were made under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which provides a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.

For the ninth to the 12th charge, Rosmah was alleged to have directly engaged in 227 transactions involving proceeds of unlawful activities totalling RM5,997,750.00 which was deposited into the same account at Affin Bank Berhad which belonged to her.

The charges were made under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which provides an imprisonment for up to 15 years and fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of unlawful activity or RM5 million, whichever is higher,  if found guilty.

Rosmah also pleaded not guilty to five counts of failing to furnish returns of her income to the Director-General of the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

There were for the 13th to the 17th charge where she was alleged to have directly engaged in transactions involving proceeds from unlawful activities by failing to furnish returns on her income amounting to  RM7,097,750.00 that was deposited into Affin Bank Berhad account number 100020000058 that belonged to her between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017.

Section  77(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967 required her to furnish returns of her income for the assessment year 2013 to 2017 to the IRB Director-General  on or before April 30,  2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 without reasonable excuse contrary to Section 112 of the law.

She was charged with committing all the offences at the Inland Revenu Board, Kompleks Bangunan Kerajaan , Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.

For the 13th charge, Rosmah was charged under Section of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which provides a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.

The 14th to the 17th charge were made under  Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which provides an imprisonment for up to 15 years and fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds of unlawful activity or RM5 million, whichever is higher,  if found guilty. – Bernama