Rosmah has new defence team for solar project case
KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who was charged with asking and receiving a RM1.5mil bribe over a solar power project for rural schools in Sarawak has appointed new lawyers to represent her in the case.
“I was informed that Rosmah has changed her defence team.
“The new line-up has applied to have a look at the documents before the case is brought up for mention for a transfer to the High Court,” said deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib when the case was brought up for mention before High Court judge Justice Azman Ahmad yesterday.
He said the prosecution would be applying to have the case tried together with that of her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, who is charged with similar offences over the same project.
Ahmad Akram said Rizal’s lawyer had filed for his case to be transferred to the High Court and that this would be mentioned tomorrow.
Lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader then confirmed that he and Datuk Jagjit Singh were representing Rosmah, adding that they needed time to go through the documents.
Akberdin said the previous defence team was still involved in Rosmah’s other case relating to the 12 charges on money laundering.
“Our appointment as her new lawyers will enable the other team to focus on her other case,” he said, adding that the court fixed Jan 11 for mention.
Last month, Rosmah had claimed trial to two counts of graft involving RM187.5mil relating to projects to provide electricity to schools in Sarawak.
In the first charge, Rosmah was accused of soliciting for herself a RM187.5mil bribe from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her aide Rizal.
She was also accused of receiving RM1.5mil from Saidi as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings in obtaining the same project.