PUTRAJAYA – The Court of Appeal has set May 18 next year to hear an appeal by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor over her judicial review to challenge former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram’s appointment as lead prosecutor in her RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project graft case.
Her lawyer, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, when contacted confirmed that the hearing date was fixed following case management before the appellate court’s deputy registrar Mariam Hasanah Othman today.
On August 30 this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court refused to give leave to Rosmah to commence a judicial review to challenge Sri Ram’s appointment as lead prosecutor in her case.
Rosmah, 70, filed the application in the high court on June 24 this year, naming the attorney-general/public prosecutor, the Malaysian government, and Sri Ram as respondents.
Rosmah, who is the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, sought a declaration that Sri Ram’s appointment as senior deputy public prosecutor – through three letters of appointment (fiat) dated July 8, 2020, May 11 and May 21, 2021 respectively – was unlawful.
She also seeks a declaration that the entire prosecution proceedings and full trial for her graft case – which commenced on November 15, 2018, until the defence closed the case – were invalid and void and that she must be acquitted of all charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009.
Prior to the judicial review, Rosmah had applied to disqualify Sri Ram but it was dismissed by justice Mohamed Zaini who presided over her corruption trial. Her appeals to the Court of Appeal and Federal Court were also dismissed.
High court judge Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid had dismissed Rosmah’s application for leave to initiate judicial review two days before justice Mohamad Zaini was scheduled to deliver his verdict in her graft case.
On September 1 this year, justice Mohamad Zaini found Rosmah guilty of the corruption charges and sentenced her to 10 years in jail and imposed an RM970 million fine.
Rosmah was charged with soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor as a reward for helping the company secure a RM1.25 billion project to provide solar hybrid energy in 369 schools in rural Sarawak.
She has filed an appeal – which is pending in the Court of Appeal – against her conviction and sentence.
Rosmah has been released on RM2 million bail pending her appeal. – Bernama, December 8, 2022
