Mahdzir turned against Rosmah to evade being charged - defence

Former education minister Mahdzir Khalid was grilled on whether he had struck a deal to implicate Rosmah Mansor in exchange for not being charged with corruption.

Cross-examining the prosecution's witness, lead defence counsel Jagjit Singh questioned if the MACC had informed Mahdzir (above) that he would be charged when the commission questioned him in 2018 over the Education Ministry's solar hybrid project.

Mahdzir maintained that he was never informed of this.

However, Jagjit suggested that upon learning he would be hauled to court, Mahdzir had engaged an intermediary to negotiate with the prosecution team.

"You appointed Datuk Vignesh (full name was not disclosed) to get the MACC not to charge you and (in exchange) you will be a star witness to implicate (former prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak and (his wife) Rosmah, and that you will sign any document (to implicate them)," he said.

Jagjit also told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the MACC had overwhelming evidence against Mahdzir and the latter purportedly arranged for a letter of representation to negotiate a deal.

However, Mahdzir disagreed with Jagjit's suggestions.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib had protested Jagjit's line of questioning and asked if the defence would call witnesses to back its allegations.

High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan then said he would allow the defence a certain degree of leeway but advised them to be careful and fair to the witness.

Rosmah (above) is facing three charges of soliciting and accepting bribes from Jepak Holdings in exchange securing a contract from the Education Ministry.

The contract concerned the supply of a solar hybrid system for 369 rural schools in Sarawak valued at RM1.25 billion.

On the first count, Rosmah is accused of dishonestly soliciting RM187.5 million in gratification, which is 15 percent of the solar hybrid project value from Jepak to help them secure the government contract at a cafe.

On the second count, Rosmah is accused of dishonestly accepting RM1.5 million from Jepak's managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin at her Jalan Langgak Duta home.

On the third count, she is accused of accepting another RM5 million from Saidi at her Jalan Langgak Duta home.

Mahdzir yesterday testified that he was pressured by Rosmah's former aide Rizal Mansor, Najib and Jepak' representatives to grant the solar hybrid project contract. 

However, Jagjit had accused Mahdzir of benefitting from Jepak's alleged bribes.  - Mkini