Rosmah pleads not guilty, bail set at RM2mil

KUALA LUMPUR (October 4): Rosmah Mansor has pleaded not guilty to 17 charges related to money laundering, and her bail has been set at RM2mil.

Channel News Asia reports that the prosecution had initially asked for bail to be set at RM10mil, but the judge said the amount was too high. Defence argued for bail to be set at RM250,000, but the judge deemed it too low.

RM500,000 is to be paid today and remainder to be paid by October 11.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram was quoted as saying to the court that “the accused (Rosmah Mansor) had approached a witness with a request to make a statement in her favor.”

Rosmah’s charges made no mention of 1MDB, but were mainly regarding transfers to her bank accounts, the alleged proceeds of illegal activities that amounted to over RM7mil.

Channel News Asia reported that eight of the 12 charges for receiving allegedly illegal funds. Each carry a punishment of a fine of no more than RM5mil OR jail time of no more than five years OR both. The remaining four charges carry a maximum 15 year prison sentence AND a fine of at least RM5mil.

Rosmah Mansor also stands accused of failing to declare income of more than RM7mil to the tax department. 

The Edge Markets reported via Twitter that Najib's case management has been postponed to Oct 31.