KUALA LUMPUR – The High Court fixed 12 May to set the verdict date for Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial involving the award of tender to supply an install solar hybrid energy for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The verdict would determine if Rosmah, the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would be released or convicted for the corruption charges.
High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the prosecution request to be given more time to file a written answer for Rosmah’s defence team.
The prosecution and defence were scheduled to submit their oral submissions today. However, both parties met in chambers and decided they would reconvene on 12 May 12. Mohamed Zaini also set the same date for the mention of the case.
After 42 days of trial and summoning 25 witnesses for testimonies, Rosmah’s defence trial has concluded the case on 23 February. Mohamed Zaini also rejected Rosmah’s application to resummon key witness, Saidi Abang Samsudin, the Managing Director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd (Jepak Holdings) for testimony.
On 15 November 2018, Rosmah pleaded not guilty before the Sessions Court on two counts of asking for gratification amounting to RM187.5 million and accepting RM1.5 million for the solar hybrid project for the rural schools in Sarawak.
On the first count of charge, Rosmah was accused for soliciting RM187.5 million through her former special aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor, which amounted to 15 percent of the value of the contract from Saidi.
The money served as a gratification to help Jepak Holdings get the RM1.25 billion Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and the Maintenance and Operation of Diesel Generator Sets for 369 rural schools in Sarawak through direct negotiation with the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Rosmah was charged with committing the offence at Lygon Bistro, G-24, Ground Floor, Sunway Putra Mall, 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit between March and April 2016.
For the second count of charge, she was charged with accepting RM1.5 million in bribery from Saidi as gratification in helping Jepak Holdings to get the project at No. 11, Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta on 7 September 2017.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and was punishable under Section 24(1) of the similar act.
Upon conviction, she could be sentenced up to 20 years in prison and fined not less than five times of the value of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
On 10 April 2019, once again, Rosmah was dragged to the Sessions Court to face charges of receiving RM5 million in gratification from Saidi through Rizal for the same purpose at Jalan Langgak Duta.
All cases were transferred to the High Court and the trial commenced on 5 February last year. -MalaysiaGazette
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