PUTRAJAYA: The prosecution has filed an application to stay the Court of Appeal's decision that granted Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor leave to adduce additional evidence in her appeal against her conviction in the RM1.25bil solar hybrid project corruption case.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah confirmed that the application was filed at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday (Sept 9).
The application for stay seeks to temporarily suspend the taking of additional evidence pending the disposal of the prosecution's appeal before the Federal Court.
Mohd Asnawi also confirmed that the prosecution had filed its notice of appeal against the Court of Appeal's ruling on Sept 4.
On Aug 1, a three-member Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli, Datuk Dr Choo Kah Sing, and K. Muniandy allowed Rosmah's application to adduce additional evidence.
The panel ordered that the additional evidence be obtained from prosecution witness Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah through further cross-examination and re-examination.
It also directed that any further evidence introduced by either the defence or prosecution must be confined to matters arising from Rayyan's additional testimony.
The Court of Appeal further ruled that the additional evidence be taken before a new High Court judge within two weeks of case management, which is scheduled for Thursday (Sept 10).
Rosmah, the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, sought to adduce the additional evidence, consisting of a police report and a statutory declaration affirmed by Rayyan.
In the declaration, Rayyan allegedly claimed that he had been subjected to pressure from the prosecution during the trial.
On Sept 1, 2022, the High Court convicted Rosmah on three corruption charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
She was found guilty of soliciting RM187.5mil and accepting RM6.5mil in bribes from Saidi Abang Samsudin, the former managing director of Jepak Holdings, through her former aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor.
The bribes were an inducement to help Jepak Holdings secure the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak from the Education Ministry.
Rosmah was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment on each charge, to run concurrently, and was also fined RM970mil. She was subsequently granted a stay of execution pending the disposal of her appeal. — Bernama
