No Prospect Of Success, AGC Withdraws Appeal Against Rosmah’s Acquittal

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has decided not to proceed with its appeal against the High Court’s decision to acquit Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor of 17 money-laundering charges, after determining that there is no reasonable prospect of success should the case proceed to the Court of Appeal.

The AGC, in a statement, said it received the appeal records from the High Court on Oct 30, 2025, and had thoroughly reviewed the grounds of judgment before arriving at its decision.

According to the AGC, one of the key factors considered was that, should the appeal proceed, the prosecution would be unable to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, as required in a criminal trial, given that key witnesses needed to substantiate the charges had either died or could no longer be located, making it impossible to sustain the appeal.

“In such circumstances, the predicate offence against the accused could likewise not be proven,” it said.

The AGC stressed that all key aspects of the case, including factual and legal considerations, were thoroughly reviewed before deciding not to proceed with the appeal, with the notice of withdrawal of the appeal filed on Dec 9.

Yesterday, the media reported that the public prosecutor had filed the notice of withdrawal of the appeal at the Court of Appeal on Dec 9, stating that the prosecution did not intend to pursue the matter further.

However, the AGC clarified that the decision to withdraw the appeal does not affect other ongoing proceedings, including the corruption case involving the accused related to the hybrid solar project, which is currently before the Court of Appeal.

“The accused was convicted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Sept 1, 2022, on three counts of corruption related to a solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM970 million.

“The execution of the sentence has been stayed pending the outcome of the accused’s appeal at the Court of Appeal.

The AGC also reiterated its commitment to carrying out its prosecutorial duties independently, fairly and with integrity, emphasising that all decisions are made based on the law and available evidence, to ensure that justice is upheld and the public interest protected.

On Dec 19 last year, Judge K. Muniandy acquitted and discharged Rosmah, 74, of all the charges after allowing her application to have all 17 counts quashed, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish the key elements of the money-laundering offences alleged against her.

The wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak filed the application to strike out the charges in September 2023, and the trial began on Aug 24, 2023, with two witnesses testifying in court.

On Oct 4, 2018, Rosmah pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of money laundering involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

The offence was allegedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad, Bangunan Getah Asli branch, Ground Floor, 148 Jalan Ampang here between Dec 4, 2013 and June 8, 2017, and at LHDN, Government Building Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2018.

The money-laundering charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the illegal proceeds, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

The tax evasion charges were framed under Section 77(1) of the Income Tax Act 1967, which required her to submit income tax returns for the assessment years 2013 to 2017 to the IRB director-general by April 30 of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Failure to do so without a reasonable excuse constitutes an offence under Section 112 of the law.

-- BERNAMA