Rosmah fails in bid to nullify case

PUTRAJAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has failed in her bid to nullify her corruption trial over a RM1.25bil hybrid solar project in Sarawak and to remove Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram as the lead prosecutor in the case.

This follows the decision of a three-member bench led by Court of Appeal judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah which allowed the preliminary objection raised by the prosecution on Rosmah’s appeal.

Justice Hanipah, in a unanimous decision yesterday, said the bench agreed with the prosecution’s contention that the criminal court had no jurisdiction to grant the declaratory relief sought by Rosmah as the appellant.

“We are of the view that the reliefs must fall within the matters allowed under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). However, there is nothing in the CPC that confers powers and jurisdiction to the High Court to exercise its criminal procedures to grant declaratory orders.

“Based on the foregoing reasons, it is our considered view that the High Court in the exercise of the criminal procedures has no jurisdiction and power to grant the reliefs sought by the appellant.

“Therefore, we allow the prosecution’s preliminary objection and the appellant’s appeals are dismissed,” she said, adding that the bench could not proceed to hear the merit of the appeal.

The other bench members are judges Datuk M. Gunalan and Datuk Hashim Hamzah, reported Bernama.

The panel made the ruling yesterday after hearing submissions by Sri Ram and counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh and Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, who appeared for Rosmah.

Before the hearing began, Jagjit apologised to the court on behalf of Rosmah for not being present in court in last Thursday’s proceedings.

“(We) express profound apology to My Lady and My Lords for the absence of the appellant last week. She expresses her sincerest apology,” the lawyer said.

Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is appealing against the High Court’s decision on Sept 24 rejecting her application to nullify her entire trial in an effort to be freed of all three charges and to remove Sri Ram as the lead prosecutor in the case.

Rosmah is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two charges of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5mil from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former assistant Datuk Rizal Mansor as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings to secure a RM1.25bil project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power.

On Oct 4, the Court of Appeal rejected Rosmah’s application to adjourn her corruption trial while waiting for the decision on the appeal.

Following the decision, Rosmah, 69, testified as a defence witness during the hearing held at the High Court on Oct 5.

The trial is scheduled to resume tomorrow.