Rosmah breaks down in tears during witness statement

KUALA LUMPUR: Emotions got the better of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor when she broke down in tears while reading her witness statement during her graft trial over the RM1.25bil solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was overcome with emotions when she came to the part in her 118-page statement where she claimed she had been maliciously prosecuted.

Rosmah was questioning the prosecution’s inaction against the five witnesses in her case, whom she claimed had collectively pointed their fingers at her “to cover their own shame” but were let off the hook.

The five are former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (the fifth prosecution witness), the ministry’s former secretaries-general Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad and Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad, Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin as well as her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.

“This is an evil and cruel deed against my family and me. It is a malicious and selective prosecution,” she said while tearing up.

Rosmah, who was wearing a green baju kurung and shawl, had to take a moment to recollect herself and wipe away her tears.

When Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan asked her if she was okay, she replied: “I’m sorry, Your Honour, I’ve gone through a lot.”

The five witnesses, Rosmah said, should have been charged in court when there were irregularities in the tender process involving Jepak Holdings, the company which she was accused of soliciting and receiving gratifications from.

She also rebuffed claims of her “overbearing nature”, saying that the prosecution had tried to link her to the trial charges with irrelevant and unrelated testimonies.

Rosmah said her marriage to Najib would not have lasted 34 years if she was indeed an “overbearing person” as claimed.

She also addressed the issue of a controversial audio recording, infamously known as “Can I advise you something?”, in her statement.

“If I really have an overbearing nature and ability to influence decisions in the public sector, as relayed by the prosecution, especially (lead prosecutor) Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, this is indeed odd.

“The prosecution tried to paint me with a negative personality through the audio recording and alleged that I purportedly ordered Najib, who was then the prime minister, to do what I wanted in the solar hybrid project, which I deny.

“This is an untrue and unverified allegation and should not be considered by this court. This situation did not happen at all,” she said.

Rosmah said despite being unable to verify the audio recording, the content sounded like a conversation between her and her husband.

“I would like to state here that my husband Najib and I are normal people just like any other couples out there.

“The conversation between my husband and me is a private conversation where I would give my opinion and my husband would listen and vice versa.

“There are times when my husband would give his opinion and I would be the one listening. Whether my husband accepts my opinion or I his, is secondary. This is part and parcel of a marriage,” she said.

Rosmah said that in the recording, she had never imposed on her husband to abide by her opinion.

“I was merely stressing my opinion and feelings. That was all,” she said.

(On Feb 18, the High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that the audio recording could be entered as evidence in the trial. The 10-second recording was played by the prosecution during the trial with the aim of getting Mahdzir to identify the voices in the conversation.)

Rosmah also denied receiving a total of RM6.5mil as mentioned in the charges against her. The cash was allegedly placed in four bags and received at two separate places.

“I never received RM5mil in two bags at Seri Perdana on Dec 20, 2016.

“The RM1.5mil in two black bags with orange stripes and purportedly given to me at my home in Langgak Duta, was never shown to me or received by me on Sept 7, 2017,” she added.

Rosmah is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5mil from Jepak Holdings’ former managing director Saidi.

The bribes were allegedly received through Rizal as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel generator sets for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25bil from the Education Ministry through direct negotiation.

The hearing continues before Justice Mohamed Zaini today with the prosecution expected to cross-examine Rosmah.