Why Is Rosmah Mansor Now Free From All 17 Money Laundering Charges?
The prosecution dropped its appeal against Rosmah Mansor’s acquittal.
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Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, 74, is now free from a case involving alleged money laundering of RM7 million and alleged tax evasion on the same amount.
On 9 December, the prosecution dropped its appeal against the High Court’s December 2024 acquittal of Rosmah. No reasons were given for the decision.
One of Rosmah’s lawyers, Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin confirmed this means Rosmah has been acquitted from all 17 money laundering charges in the case.
Throughout the process, Rosmah maintained her innocence and being acquitted served as a full vindication for her.
What was the case about?
Rosmah was accused of 12 counts of money laundering through the alleged illegal deposits worth RM7,097,750 via 235 transactions into her Affin Bank account between 4 December 2013 and 8 June 2017.
The remaining five counts of money laundering were on her alleged tax evasion, where she was accused of failing to declare the same RM7,097,750 amount to the Inland Revenue Board for five tax assessment years from 2013 to 2017.
On 19 December 2024, High Court judge K. Muniandy, who was recently elevated on 27 October to be a Court of Appeal judge, decided to acquit Rosmah of all 17 charges against her in the money laundering case.
During the decision, the High Court judge decided to grant her application to strike out all 17 charges due to reasons such as how the charges had been framed against her.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said other factors were taken into account as well in their decision to drop the appeal. As it stands, several key witnesses required to prove the charges against the accused has passed away or can no longer be traced.
These factors mean the prosecution would be unable to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt as required in a criminal trial.
She’s not totally free from the courtroom or jail yet
While Rosmah has been acquitted of all money laundering charges, she is still pursuing an appeal at the Court of Appeal against her conviction in a separate corruption case involving a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project for 369 Sarawak schools.
For this case, the High Court sentenced Rosmah to 10 years’ jail and a RM970 million fine after finding her guilty of all three corruption charges. She is still appealing against it so the sentence has not been carried out.
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