KUALA LUMPUR – The prosecution in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial relating to the solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak closed its case today after calling 23 witnesses.
Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram told Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that the prosecution was closing its case after its fifth witness, former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who was recalled for cross-examination by the defence, finished giving his evidence.
Zaini ordered both parties to file their written submissions, the defence by December 28 and the prosecution by January 4 next year, and for the defence to reply to the prosecution on January 29.
The judge also fixed February 10 next year for the parties to appear before him for oral clarification, before deciding whether to acquit Rosmah, 69, of the corruption charges or order her to enter her defence.
Sri Ram had earlier said the prosecution was offering 10 prosecution witnesses including former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the defence.
Rosmah was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
On April 10, 2019, Rosmah was charged again in the sessions court here with accepting gratification of RM5 million from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, for helping them secure the RM1.25 billion Sarawak project.
All the cases had been transferred from the sessions court to the high court for trial, which began on February 5, this year.
Rosmah is also facing 12 charges for money laundering involving RM7,097,750 and five counts of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board. This brings the total number of charges against her to 20. – Bernama, December 11, 2020
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