Rosmah sticks to her guns, insists former aide Rizal and AGC conspired to 'selectively prosecute' her

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has maintained that there was a conspiracy between her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor and the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) resulting in "selective prosecution" against her.

This was despite Rosmah not knowing any of the deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) prior to her court case.

The matter was demonstrated during cross-examination conducted by lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who questioned Rosmah about the purported conspiracy.

“I want to introduce you to the DPPs,” he said in the High Court here on Thursday (Oct 7).

The seven DPPs on the team then stood up and introduced themselves one by one to Rosmah, who was on the witness stand.

Among the DPPs were Ahmad Akram Gharib, Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam, Poh Yih Tinn and Nadia Mohd Izhar.

Sri Ram then asked Rosmah whether she knew any of the DPPs or had any quarrels with them, to which Rosmah said she did not know any of them and had only seen a few of them in court.

She also agreed that she did not have any quarrels with them.

Sri Ram: Your defence consists of the following (Rizal and the AGC officers) to hoist a false case on you.

Rosmah: Correct.

He suggested that Rosmah had no basis in her assertion that Rizal had entered into a conspiracy with the prosecutors in order to give evidence against her in the case.

The accused then shot back at the prosecutor.

Rosmah: How come you are not introducing yourself?

Sri Ram: Because I'm not from the AGC.

“But you were appointed (by the AGC). You have your fiat (authorisation),” Rosmah said in jest.

The prosecutor did not respond to Rosmah’s remark but asked to "get on with the case" before continuing his line of questioning.

Sri Ram: There is no basis that Rizal entered into a conspiracy to give evidence against you.

Rosmah: Disagree.

Prior to the commencement of her defence trial, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had filed an application to disqualify Sri Ram, a former Federal Court judge, from continuing the prosecution against her on claims that his appointment letter to be a senior deputy public prosecutor in her case was not valid.

Her application was dismissed by the High Court and is currently at the appeal stage.

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 Abang Samsudin.

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

The hearing continues before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan on Oct 21.