KUALA LUMPUR – Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been ordered to submit her defence on all corruption charges relating to a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said the prosecution has proven a prima facie case against Rosmah, 69, on all three charges.
Clad in a yellow baju kurung, she was seated in the dock and did not show any reaction to the judge’s ruling. Her husband, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is in the courtroom to lend support.
She told the court that she will give evidence on oath after Zaini ordered her to enter her defence.
The court has fixed June 9 for trial to resume.
Rosmah faces one count of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from former Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
The bribes were allegedly received through her former special officer, Datuk Rizal Mansor, from the Education Ministry through direct negotiations as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the project and the maintenance and operation of diesel gensets for 369 Sarawak rural schools.
The crime was allegedly committed at Lygon Café in Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra here; Rosmah’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta; and Seri Perdana, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya, between January 2016 and September 2017.
The charges, under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, provide 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.
The prosecution is led by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, while lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh heads the defence.
Her lawyers had submitted that she did not personally solicit and accept bribes from Saidi, and it was Saidi who intended and offered the money as political donation to Rosmah. – The Vibes, February 18, 2021
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