Interpreter claims Rosmah pleads guilty, shocks Malaysia’s High Court

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur had a moment of pure shock on Wednesday morning, December 19, when an interpreter for the court incorrectly read that Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, pleaded guilty to one of the numerous money laundering charges against her.

Malaysian National News Agency Bernama reported that the interpreter was reading the charges against Rosmah, who is facing 17 counts of money laundering and the failure to report her income to the Inland Revenue Board. The income the former First Lady of Malaysia failed to report amounted to RM 7 million (S$ 2,287,000).

On the 14th charge, the interpreter mistakenly said that Rosmah pleaded ‘guilty.’

However, this interpreter very quickly came to the realization concerning the error made and corrected it by saying that Rosmah was claiming trial, and was, therefore, pleading ‘not guilty’ after all.

It was the first time that the High Court heard Rosmah’s case since it has just been transferred from the Sessions Court. High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan presided today.

Rosmah has maintained her innocence and has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the charges against her. The former Prime Minister also faces multiple charges including corruption, money laundering, abuse of position, criminal breach of trust, and others.

Read related: Rosmah faces new charges, while Jho Low’s legal team spends over US $1 million on public relations

https://theindependent.sg.sg/rosmah-faces-new-charges-while-jho-lows-legal-team-spends-over-us-1-million-on-public-relations/