The corruption trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor, involving alleged misappropriation of funds for the supply and installation of solar energy at 369 rural schools in Sarawak commences today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
Summary of Rosmah Mansor's solar energy project case
The charges are related to the Education Ministry's solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The project was valued at RM1.25 billion, and awarded to Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd through direct negotiation.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Court adjourns, Rosmah declines to speak about her health
- Jepak MD said RM6.5m withdrawal for business use - witness
- Jepak Holdings MD withdrew RM5m, RM1.5m in RM100 notes - officer
- Photos show exact location where Rosmah allegedly received RM1.5m
- Rosmah became FLOM to work on welfare activities - witness
- Defence objects to prosecutor's opening speech
- Defence lawyer says doctor who treated Rosmah feels threatened
- Rosmah appears for graft trial despite medical condition
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2pm - Thank you for following our live report today.
Court adjourns, Rosmah declines to speak about her health
1.40pm - Court adjourns after releasing third witness Maybank officer Azimah Aziz.
Rosmah Mansor leaves the courtroom. She declines to speak about her health condition.
"Ask my doctor," she says before vanishing into the lift.
The trial will continue tomorrow morning.
Jepak MD said RM6.5m withdrawal for business use - witness
1.30pm - Maybank officer Azimah Aziz testifies under cross-examination that she did not have access to the information on the purpose for the withdrawal of RM6.5 million by then Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
Defence counsel Azrul Zulkifli Stork (photo) then questions how the bank could have allowed such a huge sum to be withdrawn without knowing the purpose.
Azimah says she did ask and Saidi responded that the withdrawal was meant for business use.
She says she had reported the two transactions to her superior.
"So, it (the transaction) was not suspicious?" asks Azrul.
"It was not without suspicion," says Azimah.
Jepak Holdings MD withdrew RM5m, RM1.5m in RM100 notes - officer
12.40pm - The trial resumes with the court calling the third witness, Maybank officer Azimah Aziz.
The 38-year-old banker, who worked as head of cashier at the Medan Tuanku branch, says the then Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin withdrew RM5 million and RM1.5 million in cash from his bank account on Dec 20, 2016, and September 7, 2017, respectively.
According to her, the bank prepared the cash in RM100 notes as requested by Saidi himself.
On the second transaction, Azimah says she asked Saidi the purpose of withdrawing the money.
"He said the withdrawal of money was merely for business purpose. Since he has (no intention) of talking about it, I did not ask further," she adds.
Azimah testifies that the bank has made it the practice to ask for the purpose of withdrawal of huge sums of money to ensure the customers are not involved in scams.
12.20pm - The court releases the second witness, MACC officer Mohd Redzuan Othman, and stands down for a while.
Najib and Rosmah are seen having a discussion with their lawyers. Later, he is seen giving her a hug before leaving the courtroom.
12.15pm - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak enters the courtroom. Rosmah turns around and smiles.
Photos show exact location where Rosmah allegedly received RM1.5m
11.30am - The prosecution's second witness, MACC officer Mohd Redzuan Othman, 27, elaborates on 10 photographs taken on Nov 2, 2018 at Rosmah's house. One photo depicts the exact location where she allegedly received RM1.5 million for projects to provide solar energy to rural schools in Sarawak.
He identifies one of the photographs as being taken at the third living room in Rosmah's house.
Further, he says another photograph shows the right-hand corner of the third living room, by a sofa, where a bag containing RM1.5 million was supposedly placed there on Sept 7, 2017.
Redzuan says he received instructions from the case's investigating officer to take the photographs, as identified by other witnesses in the case.
On the day the photographs were taken, he says he went to Rosmah's house with the witnesses and asked to identify the locations within and outside the house.
Rosmah became FLOM to work on welfare activities - witness
11.00am - The prosecution's first witness, Huzairi Zainal Abidin, 42, an official at the Prime Minister's Department, tells the court that Rosmah had no official position in the government but she played a role, particularly in welfare works, during Najib's nine-year tenure as the prime minister.
With this, the First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM) office was established for such purpose and a specific website was created.
Huzairi says Rizal Mansor was employed as an officer under FLOM.
However, the witness says FLOM was renamed and the website removed after the name of the office courted controversy, since the queen was supposed to be the first lady.
Defence objects to prosecutor's opening speech
10.15 am - In his opening speech, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram speaks how Rosmah initially asked for a 17 percent of the cost of the solar project and later accepted a lower percentage of graft.
He says her request was being arranged with the help of her former special officer Rizal Mansor.
"She placed herself in a position where she was able to influence decisions in the public sector.
"The prosecution will lead direct and circumstantial evidence to show that the accused solicited a bribe and received gratification as alleged in the charges brought against her," says Sri Ram (photo).
He states that Rosmah obtained RM6.5 million by securing an RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Defence counsel Jagjit Singh immediately objects and asks the court to expunge the relevant part which he feels is a character assassination of his client.
Sri Ram defends his opening speech and says he need to stipulate the nature of the case.
Again, the judge refuses to entertain the request of the defence counsel.
With that, the trial begins with first prosecution witness Huzairi Zainal Abidin, an official at the Prime Minister's Department.
Defence lawyer says doctor who treated Rosmah feels threatened
10am - Hearing kicks off with defence counsel Jagjit Singh complaining that the doctor who treated and issued the medical report for Rosmah felt threatened when the doctor was questioned by MACC personnel.
"That was intimidation!" Jagjit, who appears to lose his cool, raises his voice.
However, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram says the doctor is free to lodge a police report if he or she felt threatened.
Echoing this, the judge says it is beyond the court's purview to act as asked by the defence counsel.
Rosmah appears for graft trial despite medical condition
9.50am - Rosmah Mansor makes an appearance in court for her first day hearing of the solar project graft case despite her medical condition.
The wife to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak skipped the corruption trial on Feb 3 due to Addisonian crisis or adrenal crisis.
Apart from cervical spondylosis and osteoarthritis in both knees, Rosmah also suffers from chronic adrenal insufficiency.
When approached, she laments that she had no choice but to appear in court today.
Asked by the media about her health, Rosmah replies: "Do I have a choice (not to attend court)?"
She is seen walking slowly with an aide supporting her.
After getting off to a false start on Monday, today marks the official first day of Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial in relation to the supply and installation of solar energy at 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is facing three counts of corruption involving hundreds of millions of ringgit.
The accused had failed to turn up for the first day of her corruption trial on Feb 3, her counsel citing health concerns.
Previously on Nov 15, 2018, Rosmah had pleaded not guilty to two counts of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM1.5 million for projects to provide solar energy to rural schools in Sarawak.
On the first count, she was charged with dishonestly soliciting for herself, made through her former special officer Rizal Mansor, a gratification, to the amount of RM187,500,000, which is 15 percent of the value of the contract for the solar project, from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
It was as an inducement to help the company (Jepak Holdings) to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.
On the second count, Rosmah was charged with dishonestly receiving for herself RM1,500,000 from Saidi for the same purpose at No 11, Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur on Sept 7, 2017.
She was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and faces imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification of RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
On April 10, 2019, Rosmah was charged again in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur with accepting gratification of RM5 million from Saidi through Rizal for helping Jepak Holdings to secure the same project at the same place in Jalan Langgak Duta.
The trial will take place before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. - Mkini
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