The defence counsel of Rosmah Mansor had criticised the RM970 million fine that was slapped onto her in her conviction over three graft charges linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon sentenced Rosmah Mansor to 10 years in jail and the RM970 million fine, with an additional 30 years’ imprisonment if she fails to pay the fine.
In a press conference after today’s hearing, lawyer Jagjit Singh (above) pointed out that the imposed fine was unprecedented in the history of Malaysia’s legal system.
“The fine is RM970 million, that is almost one billion ringgit. You tell me, can anybody afford that amount? I can’t afford that.
“Now our client has to come up with nearly RM1 billion, and she doesn’t have a source of income,” he told reporters in the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
He said that a notice of appeal had been given to the court, adding that the process will likely take around six months.
Rosmah to appeal
Jagjit also lamented the court’s decision to dismiss their bid to recuse trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from the case.
“Our client is able to go back home and be with her family tonight.
“We will be filing the appeal in the earliest prescribed time on the entire judgement of all the three cases.
“There will also be a notice of appeal on application (to recuse trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan) which was refused, which we should have been allowed to appeal but it doesn’t matter as we all make mistakes in life,” he said.
Two days ago, Rosmah filed an eleventh-hour application on grounds linked to the alleged leak of a court judgment that found her guilty of the three corruption charges.
One charge accused Rosmah of soliciting RM187.5 million and two other counts accused her of receiving bribes of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd’s former managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin, through her former special officer Rizal Mansor.
It was allegedly done as an inducement to help the company to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 Sarawak rural schools.
Later in the day, Zaini convicted Rosmah on all three graft charges and sentenced her to 10 years in jail and an RM970 million fine in lieu of an additional 30 years of imprisonment, with the prison sentence to run from the date of sentencing today.
However, Zaini allowed the defendant’s application for a stay of execution of the sentences pending the disposal of her appeal to the Court of Appeal. - Mkini
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