KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today has dismissed the prosecution's application to adjourn Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's money laundering trial involving RM7.1 million.
Judge Muniandy Kannyappan made the ruling after deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution needs more time to decide on Rosmah's representation letter.
Akram said the accused had sent a new representation letter to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) on Aug 18.
"The defence has raised some new grounds and we need more time to verify the information in the letter.
"I humbly ask for more time to get our investigation completed so that we can reach a thorough decision.
"We need at least another two or three months... the new evidence will take this case in a whole new direction.
"If we start this case today, it will be hard for us to turn back," he said.
Rosmah's lead counsel Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent also did not object to the prosecution's application.
"Your Lordship, we agreed for the case to be adjourned today.
"The new evidence raised in the representation letter will go to the core of the prosecution and defence case," he said.
However, despite lengthy submissions by both parties, the court ruled that the case must proceed, as it had been pending for a significant period.
"This case has been pending since 2018. It is not fair for the accused... So, we will proceed today," said Muniandy.
Rosmah is facing 12 charges of money laundering involving RM7,097,750 and five charges of failing to declare her income to the IRB.
She is accused of committing the offences between Dec 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017.