Rizal’s solar project case to be heard in the High Court

KUALA LUMPUR: The case of former special officer to the former prime minister, Datuk Rizal Mansor, who faces four corruption charges involving a solar hybrid system project for rural schools in Sarawak, will be heard in the High Court.

This followed a decision by High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan in allowing Rizal’s application, made through his lawyer, Ridha Abdah Subri, for the case to be transferred to the High Court from the Sessions Court.

However, no date has been fixed for the case to be mentioned at the High Court.

The case had been fixed for mention at the Sessions Court before judge Rozina Ayob today for updates on the case development.

Ridha Abdah submitted the application in accordance with Section 417 (1)(e) of the Criminal Procedure Code and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor, Ahmad Akram Gharib, who prosecuted, did not object to it.

On Nov 15, Rizal, 45, pleaded not guilty to four counts of soliciting and accepting bribes for himself and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor amounting to RM5.5 mil involving the supply of equipment and installation of the solar hybrid system for 369 rural schools in Sarawak in 2016.

The charges were made under Section 16(a)( A) of the MACC Act 2009.

The offences are punishable under Section 24 of the same act, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s hearing of the prosecution’s application to transfer the case involving Rosmah, who is facing two counts of bribery in connection with the implementation of the project, to the High Court has been postponed to another date.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah postponed the hearing after being informed by the defence that they had only received the documents on the application from the prosecution in the morning.

“We need a new date to study the application by the prosecution to transfer the case to the High Court,” said lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, representing Rosmah, 67.

Akberdin also raised concern on the prosecution’s application to merge the case for a joint trial with two other cases involving Rosmah, which were for money laundering and tax evasion as the all the cases involved different transactions.

He requested for a month to study the documents and reply to the application.

Ahmad Akram, who also prosecuted the case, however, objected to it, saying that the defence did not need a long time to study the documents and could object the application for all cases to be heard jointly.

Judge Collin set Jan 24 for mention to obtain feedback from the defence on whether they would object the application.

Among those present at yesterday’s proceeding were Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his son Mohd Ashman, and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

On Nov 15, Rosmah pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM1.5mil in the implementation of the project.