'Can I advise you something' recording played during Rosmah's trial
ROSMAH TRIAL | The purported 1MDB-linked audio recording conversation between former premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor was played during the latter’s solar hybrid project corruption trial today.
Lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram had been allowed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to play the audio recording for the purpose of identification by 21st prosecution witness Rizal Mansor, who used to be Rosmah’s aide...
ROSMAH TRIAL | The purported 1MDB-linked audio recording conversation between former premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor was played during the latter’s solar hybrid project corruption trial today.
Lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram had been allowed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to play the audio recording for the purpose of identification by 21st prosecution witness Rizal Mansor, who used to be Rosmah’s aide.
On Jan 8, the MACC released audio recordings of several telephone conversations purportedly involving Najib with regard to the 1MDB scandal.
Among them were several alleged calls between him and former MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad, as well as one purportedly between Najib and his irate wife Rosmah, among others.
The snippet played aloud in court today was the alleged conversation between Najib and Rosmah.
As the audio recording played, a voice which, purportedly Rosmah’s, was heard saying loudly: “Can I advise you on something?”
A voice resembling that of Najib could be heard replying: “Hang on… anything?”
After the audio clip ended, Sri Ram asked Rizal who were the voices heard on the audio, and the witness replied they are Najib and Rosmah.
Sri Ram: Can you identify the male voice?
Rizal: Najib.
Sri Ram: Can you identify the female voice?
Rizal: Rosmah.
Sri Ram: You confirm that the male voice is Najib and the female voice is the accused?
Rizal: Yes.
Sri Ram: You hear no other voices?
Rizal: Only the two.
Rosmah’s defence counsel Jagjit Singh then objected to the audio recording, saying that it is not only irrelevant to the charges but that its prejudicial aspect outweighs its probative value (quality to prove something).
“We object. It (audio recording) is irrelevant to the charges. It's prejudicial (aspect) outweigh its probative value.
“(The court) Should make a ruling on the admissibility of the evidence of this audio (recording),” Jagjit said.
Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan then replied that the audio recording has yet to be tendered as evidence in the trial. Lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram said that it would be done later through the case investigating officer.
“The content of the recording is to establish the prosecution’s case that the accused is a person who has spoken to her husband about matters of government.
“It is relevant as she, therefore, is a person who, in the words of the (prosecution’s) opening statement (at the beginning of Rosmah’s trial), has a personality through which she had influenced position in an overbearing nature,” Sri Ram said.
The DPP added that the prosecution seeks to prove this via the alleged tenor of the voices heard in the audio recording.
Towards the end of the prosecution’s examination-in-chief today, Rizal testified that he never entered into any arrangement with the authorities to give false testimony in Rosmah’s trial.
The 21st prosecution witness was replying to a question from Sri Ram whether the former had entered into such an arrangement in order to have the charges against him (Rizal) be dropped.
Sri Ram: You were charged in court and then the charge against you was withdrawn. Did you then enter into any arrangement or agreement with the MACC or prosecution to give false evidence against the accused?
Rizal: Never.
On Jan 8, it was reported that the solar project-linked graft charges against Rizal were withdrawn.
The judge today then adjourned proceedings and vacated tomorrow’s initially scheduled trial as well.
Zaini set for trial to resume on Monday next week so that the defence can prepare their cross-examination of Rizal.
Rosmah is facing three charges on the alleged misappropriation of funds for the supply and installation of solar energy panels at 369 rural schools in Sarawak for the Education Ministry.
She faces one count of allegedly soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of purportedly receiving a bribe of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin as a reward for helping the company secure the RM1.25 billion project obtained through direct negotiations with the ministry.
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