KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today reminded Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's counsel to give priority to their client's money laundering and tax evasion case.
Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said this as Rosmah's case was still pending after she was charged four years ago.
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.
"I am of the view that the court must fix a trial date for this case. This case has taken a long time, since 2018.
"If the defence do not have capital punishment cases fixed on those dates, please give priority to this case," he said.
The court then fixed Dec 1 for the next hearing to fix the trial date.
Meanwhile, Deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn said the prosecution would call between 13 and 14 prosecution witnesses to testify in the trial.
He also informed the court that the Court of Appeal had fixed Dec 23 to hear Rosmah's application to recuse Zaini from hearing her case.
Rosmah had filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to recuse Zaini from hearing her money laundering and tax evasion case, claiming a risk of the judge being prejudiced and biased against her, given that Zaini had presided over her RM1.25 billion solar hybrid graft trial.
On Nov 22, a three-member panel led by Judicial Commissioner Datuk Hanipah Farikullah questioned both parties on whether the court has the jurisdiction to hear the appeal.
He asked both the prosecution and defence teams to submit their additional submissions to hear the issue before hearing Rosmah's primary appeal.
On Sept 1, Zaini convicted Rosmah and sentenced her to 10 years' jail for each of the charges with the prison terms to run concurrently.
The judge also fined her RM970 million, and if she cannot pay the fine, she will be liable to 30 years' jail.
The High Court, however, granted her a stay of execution of the imprisonment term and fine pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal.