Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid denies being in a "gang of four" who were working to oust the then-education minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from his post, the High Court heard on Monday (Feb 10).
The former education minister, who is the fifth prosecution witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's graft and solicitation of bribery trial, was responding a claim by Datuk Jagjit Singh, defence counsel to the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Jagjit: You mentioned in your statement that you were the deputy minister (Energy, Green Technology and Water) and then became Education Minister.
Mahdzir: Yes.
Jagjit: My instructions are that you were one of the gang of four who instigated the removal of Muhyiddin as Education Minister.
Mahdzir: I don't understand.
Jagjit: You were one of the gang of four.
Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader (Rosmah's defence counsel): Of the four you were one of them.
Mahdzir: I don't understand who is the gang of four. This is the first time I am hearing this. Who is this gang of four? I don't agree.
Mahdzir also denied that his trip to London with his family in 2015 was funded by Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
Jagjit: Do you remember sometime in December 2015, you went to London on a family trip?
Mahdzir: I don't remember the date.
Jagjit: Remember you told Saidi of your family trip to London, and Saidi gave you RM50,000 for your expenses? Do you agree with me?
Mahdzir: I disagree.
Jagjit: Saidi said that in his statement to the prosecution and to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Mahdzir: No.
Jagjit: So it's either you or Saidi lying.
On Nov 15,2018, Rosmah claimed trial to two charges of graft involving RM187.5mil related to projects to provide electricity to schools in Sarawak.
According to the first charge, Rosmah is accused of soliciting for herself a RM187.5mil bribe from Saidi through her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.
The money was a reward for helping Jepak Holdings obtain a project, through direct negotiations with the Education Ministry, to install solar hybrid systems and for the maintenance and operation of diesel generators for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The project, known as ‘Project Bersepadu Sistem Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Hibrid’, was valued at RM1.25bil; and RM187.5mil is 15% of that amount.
Rosmah allegedly committed the offence at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall in Jalan Putra here between January and April 2016.
In the second charge, she is accused of receiving RM1.5mil from Saidi as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings to obtain the same project.
The offence was allegedly committed at her house in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, on Sept 7,2017.
On April 10,2019, Rosmah was charged again for allegedly receiving a bribe of RM5mil from Saidi through Rizal, for the same purpose.
She allegedly committed the offence at Seri Perdana Residence, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya, on Dec 20,2016.
All of the charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Rosmah faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
The trial continues before High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. - Star
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