PUTRAJAYA – The hearing of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s appeal in the Court of Appeal against her conviction, 10-year imprisonment, and RM970 million fine for corruption in connection with a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak has been rescheduled to July 11.
Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohd Khairi Haron set four days, from July 11 to 14, for the appeal hearing during case management today.
Present during the proceeding were deputy public prosecutor Deepa Nair Thevaharan, representing the prosecution, while Rosmah was represented by lawyers Datuk Jagjit Singh and Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader.
Deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn, who confirmed the dates with the media, said the initial hearing dates of June 22 and 23 set last December 19 had been vacated.
He said parties in the appeal were directed to file their respective submissions by June 9 and the submissions in reply by June 23.
The final case management for the appeal is fixed on July 4, he added.
On September 1 last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan found Rosmah guilty of three corruption charges involving RM1.25 billion in connection with a hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah, 71, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for each charge to be served concurrently, which means she will only serve 10 years in jail. She was also fined RM970 million, in default 30 years’ jail.
She was accused of one count of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
The high court, however, granted Rosmah a stay of execution for the jail term and fine pending her appeal at the Court of Appeal.
She is also appealing against the high court’s decision in dismissing her application to disqualify justice Zaini from hearing and deciding on her case.
In his judgment, Zaini held that Rosmah’s defence was mere denial and that the RM6.5 million was indeed for her, and that she received the money at her residences in Jalan Langgak Duta and Seri Perdana. – Bernama, January 6, 2023
