Rosmah files application to disqualify High Court judge in corruption trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has filed an application to disqualify High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her corruption trial involving the RM1.25bil solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

The judge is scheduled to deliver his decision at the end of the defence's case on Thursday (Sept 1) morning.

The eleventh-hour application was filed through Messrs Akberdin & Co yesterday afternoon.

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In her notice of motion, Rosmah said on Aug 26, she had come across an article by Raja Petra Kamaruddin titled "Rosmah Mansor Will Be Pronounced Guilty On 1st September 2022".

She said she was shocked to have read the article which stated that the judgment against her was ready and that it was not prepared by the judge himself but rather prepared on his behalf.

She also claimed there is a second article by the author that has a link to a purported 71-page judgment which could be downloaded easily.

Rosmah said the revelation by the author has made her lose confidence in the trial judge especially with the upcoming decision on Thursday.

The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said if this matter was not resolved first, it would prejudice her rights under the law as there was a breach of judicial conduct by the judge.

Rosmah is seeking for a court order that the decision at the end of the defence case, which has been scheduled for Sept 1, to be stayed pending the disposal of the recusal application.

She is also seeking for a court order for the recusal application to be heard and decided before a different criminal High Court, and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

In the solar hybrid trial, Rosmah, 70, is facing 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 Rizal 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.