Rosmah S Appeal To Nullify Solar Corruption Case On March 24

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Rosmah Mansor's final appeal to nullify her corruption trial linked to the Sarawak RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project will be heard by the Federal Court on March 24.
The apex court fixed the hearing date following today's mention of the appeal by the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam this morning confirmed the hearing date fixed by the Federal Court Registry.
"The hearing of the appeal is on March 24, 2022. (The Federal Court directed parties that written) Submissions need to be filed by March 9, 2022," the prosecutor said when contacted by the media.
During this morning's online case management, defence counsel Jagjit Singh appeared for appellant Rosmah, while DPP Poh Yih Tinn represented the respondent-prosecution.
Rosmah is appealing against the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision on Sept 24 last year, which dismissed her application to quash the criminal trial involving the project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
She sought the nullification over her contention about the alleged invalidity of former federal court judge Gopal Sri Ram's letter of appointment for him to prosecute her case. He is the lead DPP in her solar corruption trial.
Successfully established prima facie case
On Dec 6 last year, the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed her appeal, following them allowing the prosecution's preliminary objection (PO) against the said appeal.
The Court of Appeal bench, chaired by Hanipah Farikullah, agreed with the prosecution's contention that the criminal court has no jurisdiction to grant the declaratory relief sought by appellant Rosmah.
Earlier, on Feb 18 last year, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ordered Rosmah to enter her defence, following its finding that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against her in the solar project corruption case.
For the current solar graft trial before the High Court, Rosmah, 70, is facing three charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
On the first charge, she is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd to help secure an Education Ministry project.
The RM1.25 billion project was intended to supply power to 369 rural schools in Sarawak using a combination of solar and diesel energy.
On the second and third charges, she is accused of receiving RM1.5 million and RM5 million in bribes, respectively, as a reward for securing the project.
Her trial before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan is scheduled to resume on Monday next week, with her husband Najib set to take the witness stand to testify on behalf of her defence. - Mkini

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