Rosmah's graft trial verdict postponed to Sept 1

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has postponed its verdict in the graft trial of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who is accused of corruption involving an RM1.25bil solar hybrid project in Sarawak to Sept 1.

On May 12, High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan fixed July 7 to deliver his decision at the end of the defence date.

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The July 7 date, however, has been vacated during a case management before deputy registrar Catherine Nicholas here on Friday.

Rosmah's lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, who met with the press after case management, said the court had written to parties on June 28 for them to appear before the deputy registrar on Friday (July 1).

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Rosmah was exempted from attending the case management.

"No reason was given (for the rescheduling)," Akberdin said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn confirmed the rescheduling.

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He said that the judge had wanted a date in August but parties could only agree to a common date in September.

Rosmah's defence trial concluded on Feb 23 with 25 witnesses; 23 from the prosecution and two from the defence including Rosmah.

The trial lasted 42 days.

On Feb 18 last year, the High Court ordered Rosmah to enter her defence on all three corruption charges involving the solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in proving a prima facie case against her.

Rosmah, 70, faces one charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM6.5mil from the former managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, Saidi Abang Samsudin.

The bribe was allegedly received through her former special officer Datuk Rizal Mansor as a reward to help Jepak Holdings obtain the Integrated Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Hybrid System Project as well as genset/diesel maintenance and operations for 369 schools worth RM1.25bil through direct negotiations from the Education Ministry.