Rosmah, wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, filed the application last Friday.

The application is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday morning, while the trial is scheduled to begin at 2.30pm that day.

Rosmah’s lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent when contacted by FMT confirmed the application.

She said the trial, on charges of money laundering and tax evasion, should be put on hold pending the outcome of her appeal in the Court of Appeal.

Judge Zaini is also hearing Rosmah’s ongoing corruption trial linked to a RM1.25 billion hybrid solar energy project for Sarawak rural schools.

On Dec 14, Zaini had dismissed Rosmah’s application to disqualify him from hearing the second trial. He said a judge is required to consider separately and independently the evidence against the accused.

“Any findings I make in the corruption case remain there,” he said, adding that a recent Federal Court ruling held that a judge, unlike jurors, is trained in law to remain impartial after reading the facts relating to a case.

Rosmah had applied for an order that the money laundering case be heard before another High Court judge as statements and exhibits tendered before the court in the corruption case could directly or indirectly influence Zaini if he also presided over the money laundering case.

She faces 12 charges of money laundering involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failure to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.