Defence team objects to transfer of case to High Court

KUALA LUMPUR: The defence team in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s corruption case involving a solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak has objected to the prosecution’s application for the case to be transferred to the High Court.

This was informed by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar during case mention at the Sessions Court before judge Azman Ahmad.

“The hearing for the transfer of the case has been fixed at the High Court on March 15 and since the application is pending, we would like to ask for another date to be fixed for mention at the Sessions Court,” he said.

Rosmah’s counsel, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, confirmed the matter and told the court that the defence had submitted an affidavit to the court.

He said, however, that the prosecution had yet to reply to the affidavit. The court then fixed March 20 for mention.

Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was charged with two counts of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM1.5 million for a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

On the first count, Rosmah was alleged to have solicited RM187.5 million, which is 15 per cent of the value of the contract, from Saidi Abang Samsudin, the managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The amount was allegedly solicited by Rosmah as an inducement to help the company secure the tender through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry worth RM1.25 billion for a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

The charges, under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission Act 2009, carries a jail term of up to 20 years with a fine of up to five times the value of the graft or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.