Rosmah's lawyer suggests Pekan Umno man received RM1.5m commission

ROSMAH TRIAL | The corruption trial against former premier Najib Abdul Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor this morning saw allegations of bribery flying around against politicians related to the RM1.25 billion worth project to supply solar hybrid system for schools in Sarawak.

Among those named in the claims made by Rosmah's defence lawyer Jagjit Singh (above) was one "Tok Mey", or Ahmad Aazmey Abu Talib, who is the Pekan Umno division secretary.

For the record, Pekan Umno is the division which Najib currently serving as its chief.

According to Jagjit's cross-examination on former education minister Mahdzir Khalid, Aazmey had allegedly received over RM1.5 million for helping out Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to acquire the contract.

Mahdzir was the minister during the material time when the process of awarding the contract took place between 2015 and 2017.

While he agreed that it was with Aazmey's assistance that Jepak Holdings managed to get the contract, Mahdzir (photo) said he was not aware of the commission.

Jagjit: You mentioned that he (Aazmey) is the secretary for the Pekan Umno division. You agree?

Mahdzir: Yes.

Jagjit: Are you aware that Tok Mey, Datuk Aazmey, helped Saidi to get the PM to write the minutes to you? (The minutes which read) 'Sila laksanakan seperti minit saya'. It was with Tok Mey's assistance that this minute (was written by Najib).

Mahdzir: I was informed (about this) by Saidi.

Jagjit: Also IDP15, the minutes on (Jepak Holding's) letterhead on Nov 23, 2015, also on the assistance from Tok Mey. You agree?

(IDP15 is a minute written by Najib which supported Jepak Holdings' proposal to replace electricity supply system at schools in Sarawak with solar hybrid)

Mahdzir: I was informed (about this) by Saidi.

Jagjit: Are you aware that Tok Mey, for all the favours he did, received RM1.5 million from Saidi. Are you aware at that time?

Mahdzir: Not aware.

Besides Aazmey, Jagjit had suggested several times that Mahdzir also received kickbacks from Jepak Holdings.

Mahdzir, he claimed, had in late 2015 suggested to Saidi that he would need a lot of money to cover for his expenses in London, after which Saidi then purportedly handed him RM50,000.

Jagjit then pressed Mahdzir, suggesting that this was the reason why Saidi in a text message said that he was still waiting for a letter of award (LA) "as promised by YB", referring to Mahdzir.

He confronted Mahdzir on this, saying that the text message looked like he had indeed promised Jepak Holdings the contract.

Mahdzir, however, denied it.

Jagjit: For accepting RM50,000, you have been bought over by Saidi. That is why this message from Saidi reads "seperti dijanjikan YB". Do you agree or disagree?

Mahdzir: I disagree. - Mkini