KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has once again failed in her bid to recuse High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her second trial involving 17 money laundering and tax evasion charges to the tune of RM7 million.
In dismissing her application, Zaini said the second application is considerably based on the same grounds as the first application namely the fact that he is the presiding judge in Rosmah's graft trial linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.
Zaini also described Rosmah's decision to include two additional cases that he presided namely the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) forfeiture case and 1MDB audit trial as to add 'colour' in her application.
"What the applicant has done in including these two additional cases was to add more colour to her application.
"I must add that I was bemused that the applicant had mentioned those two (cases) as I had in the 1MDB forfeiture case, dismissed the prosecution's attempt to forfeit properties belonging to her.
"The 1MDB audit trial on the other hand, does not concern the applicant at all.
"In essence, the grounds in the application is the same as the first application as it pertained my involvement and decision made in these cases," he said.
Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram conducted the prosecution while Rosmah was represented by lawyer Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin.
Firoz applied for stay of the ruling pending their appeal at the Court of Appeal.
Zaini allowed the application.
Rosmah had filed the application for Zaini's recusal citing grounds that Zaini is currently presiding over her solar hybrid graft trial and has already ordered her to enter her defence.
Rosmah is facing 12 money laundering charges amounting to about RM7 million and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.
On Feb 18 last year, Zaini ordered Rosmah to enter her defence after the prosecution had made out a prima facie case against Rosmah in her solar hybrid project case.