JOINT TRIAL BID WITHDRAWN
Application withdrawn in solar hybrid project case due to technical issue, says DPP
THE High Court yesterday set aside the joint trial application involving Datuk Rizal Mansor and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor regarding a solar hybrid project for 369 schools in Sarawak.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib yesterday withdrew his application due to a technical issue.
“We will file a new application for the joint trial soon (after the application to transfer the case is heard)” he said at the mention of the case before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah yesterday.
Counsel Ridha Abdah Subri, who represented the accused, said he had no objection to the prosecution’s request.
The court allowed the application and said the corruption case against Rizal would remain in its purview in the High Court.
On Jan 25, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who is the lead prosecutor in Rosmah’s corruption case, told the High Court that the prosecution would apply for the joint trial after their application to transfer Rosmah’s case was completed.
“We have filed an application to transfer Rosmah’s corruption charges to the High Court.
“The hearing of the application has been fixed for March 15,” he had said before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
On Nov 15, Rosmah, 67, who is the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was charged with two counts of soliciting and receiving RM187.5 million and RM1.5 million respectively from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
The amount was allegedly solicited by Rosmah as an inducement to help the company secure a tender through direct negotiations with the Education Ministry worth RM1.25 billion for a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and the Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel was for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
On the money laundering charges, Rosmah had allegedly engaged in transactions that involved proceeds from unlawful activity by allowing money totalling RM7,097,750 to be deposited into her account.
Rizal, 44, who at one time served as Rosmah’s aide, was charged with soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to RM218 million on behalf of Rosmah and himself.
On the first charge, he is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million on behalf of Rosmah from Saidi Abang.
According to the charge, the money was an inducement for Rosmah to assist the company in securing the project, as well as the Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel.
On the second charge, Rizal was accused of soliciting RM25 million for himself from the same person to ensure that Rosmah would assist the company with obtaining the project.
The offence was allegedly committed at Lygon Cafe, G-24, Ground Floor, Sunway Putra Mall, 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit between March and April 2016.
On the third charge, he is accused of receiving RM5 million on behalf of Rosmah from the same person as a reward for Rosmah for assisting Jepak Holdings obtain the project through direct negotiations at Pavilion REIT Management Sdn Bhd on Dec 20, 2016.
Rizal was also charged with receiving RM500,000 for himself from the same person as a reward for him in ensuring Rosmah assisted Jepak Holdings obtain the same project, at No. 1, Laman Damai Sari, Jalan 1/16, Bukit Segambut on Dec 23, 2016.
The offence falls under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the total value of the bribe.