KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was acquitted today (Dec 19) of all money laundering and tax evasion charges, six years after the charges were filed against her in the High Court.
Here is the timeline of events:
Oct 4, 2018 – Rosmah was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with 12 counts of money laundering amounting to RM7 million and five counts of failing to submit income tax returns to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
Dec 19, 2018 – The case was transferred to the High Court, where Rosmah maintained her not guilty plea.
May 12, 2019 – The trial was adjourned due to the government's Movement Control Order (MCO) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Oct 4, 2020 – Rosmah filed an application seeking acquittal and dismissal of all 17 charges.
Feb 25, 2021 – The hearing was scheduled to begin on Nov 15, 2021.
Jan 12, 2022 – Proceedings were delayed as Rosmah sought to have Justice Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan recused from hearing her case.
May 3, 2023 – Rosmah submitted her first representation to dismiss all charges.
May 11, 2023 – Justice K. Muniandy replaced Justice Mohamed Zaini, who had been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
May 12, 2023 – The trial was postponed after Rosmah's lawyers informed the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) of her representation.
Aug 18, 2023 – Rosmah submitted a second representation to have all charges dropped.
Aug 24, 2023 – The trial commenced after the High Court dismissed the prosecution's request for another adjournment.
March 1, 2024 – The AGC had yet to decide on Rosmah's third representation to drop all charges.
July 4, 2024 – Rosmah introduced new matters in her third representation.
Aug 23, 2024 – The deputy public prosecutor announced that the status of Rosmah's third representation was in its final stages.
Sept 6, 2024 – The AGC had not reached a decision on Rosmah's third representation, prompting Justice K. Muniandy to set Oct 11 for the hearing of her dismissal application.
Nov 12, 2024 – The High Court scheduled Dec 19, 2024, as the decision date for Rosmah's case.
Dec 19, 2024 – Rosmah was acquitted and discharged by the High Court of all 12 money laundering charges and five counts of tax evasion.