Rosmah says will testify under oath in graft trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor Rosmah (pic) says she will testify under oath on the witness stand for her defence trial.

This comes after the High Court called her to enter her defence on the three corruption charges involving a solar hybrid project in Sarawak after finding the prosecution had proven a prima facie case

READ ALSO: Rosmah ordered to enter defence in corruption case

Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan delivered the decision at the end of the prosecution’s case here on Thursday (Feb 18).

He said the court had given a maximum evaluation on the prosecution’s case.

“The prosecution had adduced credible evidence to prove the elements under the charges.

“If unrebutted or unexplained, it would warrant a conviction.

“I therefore call for the accused to enter her defence,” said the judge.

Rosmah, 70, has three options - either keep silent and not answer to the charges, give an unsworn statement from the dock without being cross-examined by the prosecution, or testify under oath on the witness stand with the prosecution given the opportunity to question her during cross-examination.

When asked by the court interpreter, Rosmah said she would testify under oath on the witness stand for her defence trial.

Rosmah’s husband, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was by her side, was spotted briefly putting his arms over her shoulder, when court was in recess.

On Nov 15,2018, Rosmah claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to two counts of soliciting RM187.5mil and receiving RM1.5mil for projects to provide solar energy to rural schools in Sarawak.

On the first count, she was charged with dishonestly soliciting for herself, made through her former special officer Datuk Rizal Mansor, 46, a gratification of RM187.5mil, which is 15% of the value of the contract for the project from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd’s former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

It was as an inducement to help the company (Jepak Holdings) to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25bil through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.

She was charged with committing the offence at Lygon Cafe’, G-24, Ground Floor, Sunway Putra Mall, 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit, here between March and April 2016.

On the second count, Rosmah was charged with dishonestly receiving for herself RM1,500,000 from Saidi for the same purpose at No. 11, Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, here on Sept 7, 2017.

She was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

On April 10, 2019, Rosmah was charged again in the Sessions Court here with accepting gratification of RM5mil from Saidi through Rizal for helping Jepak Holdings to secure the same project at the same place in Jalan Langgak Duta.

All the cases had been transferred from the Sessions Court to the High Court for the trial which began on Feb 5,2020.

The trial dates for Rosmah’s defence have been fixed for seven days in June (9th, 10th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 22nd, and 23rd) and two days in July (12th and 15th).

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