Purported audio recording of me and Najib untrue, utter rubbish: Rosmah
Rosmah Mansor has described an alleged audio recording of her and her husband Najib Abdul Razak as not true and “utter rubbish”.
The wife of the former prime minister was replying to cross-examination by DPP Gopal Sri Ram during today’s corruption trial against her.
The prosecutor was questioning Rosmah in relation...
Rosmah Mansor has described an alleged audio recording of her and her husband Najib Abdul Razak as not true and “utter rubbish”.
The wife of the former prime minister was replying to a cross-examination by DPP Gopal Sri Ram during today’s corruption trial against her.
The prosecutor was questioning Rosmah in relation to her graft trial linked to the solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The audio recording in question was the one revealed by the MACC during a press conference on Jan 8, 2020.
On that day, MACC had released audio recordings of several alleged telephone conversations involving Najib with regard to the 1MDB matter.
Among them were several calls between him and former MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad.
Others included conversations between Najib and high ranking individuals from the United Arab Emirates, concerning the US Department of Justice's 1MDB civil forfeiture suits and funds channelled to the former premier's stepson Riza Aziz.
There was also a recording of an alleged conversation between Najib and Rosmah, where she was alleged to have said "Can I advise you on something?" The MACC said the recordings were authentic.
The prosecution previously succeeded in getting the audio recording between her and Najib to be admitted as evidence for her solar corruption trial.
During today’s corruption proceedings before trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, Rosmah denied it was her who was in the audio recording.
Sri Ram: I put it to you it was your voice (in the audio recording)?
Rosmah: I disagree.
Sri Ram: During that conversation, you made reference to the appointment of persons to public office?
Rosmah: I disagree.
Sri Ram: I put to you that you are distancing yourself from the content of the tape that shows you giving advice to your husband on public appointments?
Rosmah: I disagree.
Sri Ram: I put to you that the content of that tape is true?
Rosmah: No, (the audio recording is) utter rubbish.
The accused contended that there was no scientific investigation that proved it was her voice on the recording.
However, when Sri Ram asked whether she was present in court when several witnesses attested it was her voice in the recording, she conceded she was in court then. However, she maintained it was not her voice in the recording.
These prosecution witnesses include Rosmah Mansor's alleged former aide Rizal Mansor, who on Sept 9 last year in court confirmed one of the voices in the audio recording was her.
The exchange between Sri Ram and Rosmah is tense at times, with the accused at one point remarking that she was not used to people shouting at her.
The trial before the Kuala Lumpur High Court will resume tomorrow morning.
Facing three charges
Rosmah is on trial over a graft case linked to the solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The 70-year-old 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 schools 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.
On Feb 18, the High Court ordered Rosmah to enter her defence, following its finding that the prosecution succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against her.
Currently, the proceedings before Zaini is the defence stage of the trial, where Rosmah’s legal team is attempting to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case and get her acquitted.
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