[UPDATED] Rosmah arrives at court complex with entourage of at least 20

KUALA LUMPUR – Arriving in style and flanked by at least 20 people, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor gave the media the slip at the main gate of the court complex here.

At 8.55am, she was at the courthouse lobby with a large entourage of at least 20 people including bodyguards, assistants, and lawyers.

She is dressed in a yellow baju kurung with pink and violet floral motifs and a matching tudung and mask.

Media personnel were, however, unhappy that Rosmah is blocked by a bodyguard walking in front of the entourage.

Members of the press today gathered at the court complex here as early as 6am for Rosmah’s much anticipated verdict in the graft case relating to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project.

At around 6.40am, People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) officers had begun erecting cones in front of the courthouse’s main gate to prevent vehicles from entering the compound.

Police officers arrived at the complex at 8.15am as more and more civilians are at the main gates attempting to enter the building.

One of Rosmah’s lawyers, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, arrived before 8.50am and was seen waiting at the courthouse lobby.

Media personnel without passes – which were issued by the court on Tuesday – have been barred from entering the building.

A member of the public was also seen being denied entry by Rela personnel, despite having matters to attend to in court.

Declining to be named, the man told The Vibes that he was unsure what letter the Rela personnel were referring to and who was supposed to provide the document.

It is expected that at least 100 members of the media from all around the world will be in the courthouse while more are waiting outside in anticipation of Rosmah’s arrival.

Among international media organisations present are Reuters, NHK, The Straits Times, and AFP.

The court has also implemented other strict crowd control measures to facilitate this trial and other urgent cases at the complex.

These measures are significantly stricter than they were last week, when Rosmah’s husband and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made his first public appearance since his imprisonment on August 23.

Rosmah’s trial – before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan – will begin at 9am with her expected to arrive shortly before that. 

She is charged with soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd’s former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former special officer Datuk Rizal Mansor.

The kickbacks were allegedly an inducement to help the company Jepak Holdings secure the hybrid photovoltaic solar system integrated project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25 billion. – The Vibes, September 1, 2022

Reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain and Lancelot Theseira