‘Witch hunt against Rosmah’

Defence: MACC targeting her as others in the case not charged

KUALA LUMPUR: The defence in the trial of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has claimed that she is a victim of a “malicious” prosecution with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) targeting her while others in the case have not been charged.

Rosmah’s lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kadir told the court that the MACC selectively chose not to charge former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Pekan Umno secretary Datuk Aazmey Abu Talib while charges against Rosmah’s former aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor, were withdrawn.

“These charges are a form of malicious prosecution. It is a witch hunt as those who were previously charged have their charges retracted just because the MACC wanted to charge Rosmah,” he said.

Akberdin said this during cross-examination of the 23rd prosecution witness, investigating officer Noornabilah Mohd Aziman from the MACC, during the trial here yesterday.

He went on to say that the MACC was “ready” to charge Aazmey with 20 charges but this has yet to happen.

“We have not even talked about Mahdzir yet,” he added.

Noornabilah replied that she was only investigating the allegations concerning Rosmah and was not involved in the investigations relating to the other three.

Akberdin further suggested that by withdrawing the charges against Rizal, who was initially charged in relation to Rosmah’s alleged offences, MACC had tarnished its own reputation and integrity.

At this point, ad hoc prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram replied that it was the prosecution’s power and not the MACC to pursue or drop criminal charges.

“It is unfair to ask the witness. It is up to the prosecutor’s discretion,” he said.

Akberdin also seemed irritated at the witness as she kept replying “boleh ulang soalan” (can you repeat the question) and “saya tidak tahu” (I don’t know) to his questions.

“You are completely not proactive at all Puan Noornabilah, everything you say, you don’t know, you don’t know,” he said in frustration.

Akberdin: MACC was disappointed that the prosecution did not charge Mahdzir despite the evidence against him.

Noornabilah: I don’t know.

Akberdin: MACC does not see any other target, only Rosmah.

Noornabilah: Yes, true.

Akberdin: If Mahdzir was charged, the objective to get a conviction against Rosmah would not be fulfilled.

Noornabilah: I disagree.

Akberdin: This is to destroy Rosmah’s dignity and reputation as the former first lady, that is why Mahdzir is not charged. Noornabilah: I disagree. Rosmah, 69, is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two counts of receiving a total of RM6.5mil bribe from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd’s former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, through her former aide Rizal, in exchange for helping Jepak Holdings obtain the RM1.25bil Sarawak rural school solar energy project.

The acts were allegedly committed at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra here, Rosmah’s residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, and at Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya between January 2016 and September 2017.

The hearing before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues today.