Rosmah denies disrespecting court over solar corruption trial no-show
Rosmah Mansor today denied the prosecution’s contention that she disrespected the court over her non-attendance for her corruption trial on Nov 21.
The wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said this when cross-examined by the prosecution during her graft trial linked to the solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah Mansor today denied the prosecution’s contention that she disrespected the court over her non-attendance for her corruption trial on Nov 21.
The wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak said this when cross-examined by the prosecution during her graft trial linked to the solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram questioned Rosmah about her no-show on Nov 21 for the trial before the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
On that date, she was still in Singapore to support her daughter Nooryana Najwa, who gave birth to her second child.
Previously, the same court had granted her temporary access to her passport so that she could go to Singapore. However, this was on the condition that she returned by Nov 21, when the trial was initially supposed to resume.
During proceedings before trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan today, Rosmah disagreed with Sri Ram’s question that she disrespected the court due to her absence.
Sri Ram: I put it to you that you have no respect for this court?
Rosmah: I disagree.
At this stage, Rosmah’s defence counsel Jagjit Singh raised an objection to the question, informing the court that the issue had already been earlier settled before the Court of Appeal.
Jagjit was referring to her absence during a separate proceeding before the Court of Appeal around a similar time period, whereby she had apologised to the Court of Appeal over her absence.
Zaini then told parties to allow Rosmah to explain herself over the matter.
When Sri Ram reworded his question to that Rosmah had no good reason to be absent from the Nov 21 trial date, the accused disagreed completely.
After that, Sri Ram moved on to a different topic during today’s trial.
Rosmah ordered to enter defence
Earlier today, Zaini allowed Rosmah to enter the courtroom, following being informed by Jagjit that her MySejahtera status was listed as 'casual contact'.
The Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex usually only allows those with a low risk (blue) MySejahtera status to enter the premises.
If a person does not test positive for Covid-19, it usually takes 10 days for their casual contact (yellow) or close contact (orange) status to revert back to blue on the app.
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 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.
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.
Proceedings are currently in the defence stage of the trial, whereby Rosmah’s defence team is attempting to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case against her, thus allowing her to be acquitted of the graft charges.
