Prosecution Set A Trap For Rosmah Argues Defence

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Rosmah Mansor is accused of corruption in connection with the Sarawak schools’ solar project. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor is a victim of selective prosecution done in bad faith, the High Court heard in the corruption trial of the former prime minister’s wife today.
Lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader, who read the defence’s opening statement before the accused gave evidence, said Rosmah’s former aide, Rizal Mansor, was the one who solicited and accepted bribes for a Sarawak solar project.
However, the lawyer said, the prosecution withdrew charges against Rizal and made him their witness.
Rizal, who was jointly charged with Rosmah, was freed of four counts of corruption over the project just before the trial began early last year.
“The prosecution cut a deal with Rizal and made him their crown witness to give false evidence to trap and implicate the accused with three charges,” Akberdin said.
He claimed that Rizal would be prosecuted with new charges if he refused to cooperate with the prosecution.
“This shows the prosecution had bad faith although the allegations against the accused are baseless,” he said.
He said Rosmah, the wife of Najib Razak, had been used as a scapegoat by incompetent people in the education ministry to conspire with Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, which was awarded the contract for the solar project.
Rosmah, 69, is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million from former Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, through Rizal, as an inducement to help the company secure the solar project through direct negotiation with the ministry.
She is also accused of two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM1.5 million in 2016 and another RM5 million in 2017 from Saidi.
On Feb 18, trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ordered Rosmah to enter her defence as the prosecution had established a prima facie case against her.
The prosecution had called 23 witnesses to prove its case.
Akberdin said the defence was taking the position that Rosmah was not involved in corrupt practice directly or indirectly.
He said there were no reports by Saidi and his assistant, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission that Rosmah solicited and accepted the bribes.
“Instead, Rizal used his position and the accused’s name and position without her knowledge to achieve his personal aims,” he said.
Akberdin said Rosmah never received the RM6.5 million from Saidi and claimed the other RM5 million was pocketed by Rizal.
He said only Najib could give approvals for projects then and she had no power.
Akberdin said Saidi only made an offer of a political donation to Najib as a gesture of gratitude for supporting the project.
“This was a political donation to ensure Barisan Nasional won the 14th general election and not a personal contribution to the accused,” he added.
The hearing continues. - FMT

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