DAY 9 | 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 continues today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Najib's minutes not to be strictly followed, claims defence
Najib's minutes not to be strictly followed, claims defence
10.25am - The prosecution and defence verbally spar over a line of questioning on whether the minutes by then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is to be followed religiously or not.
The disagreement between DPP Gopal Sri Ram and lawyer Akberdin Abdul was over the latter's question to the sixth prosecution witness, former Education Ministry secretary-general Madinah Mohamad.
Akberdin is cross-examining Madinah over a memo involving a letter from Jepak Holdings.
The memo allegedly raised concern over the termination of the generator set-linked contracts linked to schools in Sarawak as it may lead to the matter dragged to court and bring negative effect to the government, among others.
Sri Ram then stands up and ask what is the relevance of the question as the trial is not against Najib.
Akberdin counters that it was the prosecution who tendered the minutes in proceedings, arguing that the defence wishes to show that the minutes by then PM Najib was not to be followed religiously.
Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allows the question.
Day 9 of Rosmah's corruption trial begins
10.10am - Proceedings begin.
Also seen in court is lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram and other DPPs, as well as defence counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader, Jagjit Singh and Azrul Zulkifli Stork, and other members of the defence team.
9.47am - Accused Rosmah Mansor enters the Kuala Lumpur High Court and takes a seat in the dock to wait for proceedings to begin.
The corruption trial against the wife of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, Rosmah Mansor, over a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 schools in Sarawak continues for its ninth day today.
It has been scheduled that the defence would resume their cross-examination on former Education Ministry (MOE) secretary-general Madinah Mohamad, who is the sixth prosecution witness.
As the court was adjourned early yesterday to allow some rest for Rosmah's lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader, who was unwell, the counsel had informed the court that he would need at least one more day to examine Madinah.
Since she started giving her testimony under prosecution's examination last Thursday, Madinah has made explosive revelations on the alleged pressure put by Najib, Rosmah, her aide Rizal Mansor as well as individuals connected to Jepak Holdings on the ministry to approve the project.
This includes an incident in 2016, when Rosmah had allegedly told Madinah personally to "have a look at the Jepak solar project" and to "expedite" it.
The witness also told the court that the MOE only considered Jepak's proposal because of Najib's minutes in Nov 2015 and June 2016, ordering the Education Ministry to approve the company's proposal.
However, during yesterday's proceeding, the defence pointed out to the witness on what appeared to be contradictions in her statements.
Akberdin confronted Madinah that she had testified that Najib's minutes on a company's letter was normal, and did not mean that the ministry could execute such orders without proper planning or going against procedures that had been set by the government.
He suggested to the witness that her statement in the court blaming Najib's minutes was made in bad faith, and was an attempt to make Najib a scapegoat.
Madinah disagreed with the suggestion.
The lawyer also suggested to Madinah that there was a contradiction between what she told the court and her action during the material time as the ministry's secretary-general.
Referring to a memo from Madinah to the then education minister Mahdzir Khalid, Akberdin said the witness had in 2016 supported Jepak's proposal saying that solar hybrid project was a better option to power the schools, compared with existing diesel generator sets.
When Madinah agrees that she had indeed supported the company's proposal in her memo to Mahdzir, Akberdin then points out to the court Madinah's written testimony, particularly the part where she said "diesel gensets was the effective method to supply electricity" to the schools.
The retiree, initially disagreeing that she had contradicted herself, eventually conceded that there was contradiction after being pressed by Akberdin.
Akberdin: You disagree? I have read it. It is short and easy to understand. You do not agree that before this you supported (the proposal) for solar, but now you support gensets?
Madinah: From that perspective, there is a contradiction.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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