Rosmah slapped with graft charges

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was hauled to court for the second time in two months, and this time it was for graft charges involving RM187.5mil relating to projects to provide electricity to schools in Sarawak.

In the first charge, Rosmah was accused of soliciting for herself a RM187.5mil bribe from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, through her aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.

The money was a reward for helping Jepak Holdings obtain a project, through direct negotiations with the Education Ministry, for installing solar hybrid systems and for the maintenance and operation of diesel generators for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

The project was valued at RM1.25bil and RM187.5mil is 15% of that amount.

Rosmah allegedly committed the offence at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall in Jalan Putra here between March and April 2016.

In the second charge, Rosmah was accused of receiving RM1.5mil from Saidi as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings in obtaining the same project.

The offence was allegedly committed at a house in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta on Sept 7 last year.

She pleaded not guilty to the two counts under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum 20 years in jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.

DPP Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar offered bail at RM1mil.

Lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, who represented Rosmah, agreed with the amount.

He asked the court to allow the bail to be paid in instalments in 10 days.

Sessions Court judge Azman Ahmad allowed bail at RM1mil in one surety.

He also ordered for RM500,000 bail to be paid yesterday and the balance to be paid in seven days.

The case is fixed for mention on Dec 10.

Meanwhile, Rosmah’s aide Rizal was charged for allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes relating to the same project.

The 44-year-old pleaded not guilty to four counts of soliciting RM212.5mil and receiving RM5.5mil on behalf of Rosmah and himself.

Dressed in a short-sleeved batik shirt and a black coat, Rizal remained calm as the charges were read to him before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob. All the charges were also under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act.

Rizal was accused of soliciting RM187.5mil on behalf of Rosmah from Saidi as an inducement for Rosmah to assist Jepak Holdings in obtaining the Sarawak project.

In the second charge, Rizal allegedly solicited RM25mil for himself from Saidi as an inducement to ensure that Rosmah will assist Jepak Holdings with securing the project.

Both offences were said to have been committed at Lygon Cafe in Sunway Putra Mall between March and April 2016.

For the third charge, Rizal was said to have corruptly received RM5mil from Saidi as a reward for Rosmah on Dec 20, 2016, at Pavilion, while in the fourth charge, Rizal allegedly received RM500,000 for himself from Saidi three days later at a location in Segambut.

DPP Kamal Baharin Omar requested for bail to be set at RM1mil and this was agreed by Rizal’s counsel Ridha Abdah Subri.

In mitigating for a longer time frame to post bail, Ridha said his client has difficulties raising the amount in such a short period and that he needed a week to do so.

Judge Rozina granted bail at RM1mil in two sureties and ordered Rizal to surrender his passport.

She allowed Rizal to post RM500,000 yesterday and the remaining amount by next Thursday. She also ordered Rizal not to interfere with any of the prosecution witnesses.

Judge Rozina fixed the case for mention on Nov 29.