KUALA LUMPUR: The graft trial of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was postponed to tomorrow after the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was a no-show at the High Court.
Rosmah’s trial for charges of solicitation of bribery and graft was to start yesterday.
High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan adjourned yesterday’s session and allowed today’s session to be vacated after Rosmah’s counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh informed the court that his client was too unwell to attend court, and had been given sick leave until Feb 8, due to a “serious” medical condition.
His explanation provided a light moment when he told the court he Googled the symptoms suffered by Rosmah and found out that it could be a “life-threatening condition”.
Jagjit: It is possible that it is a life-threatening condition.
Mohamed Zaini: Where does it state (in the report) that it is a life-threatening condition?
Jagjit: I got it from Google search (of the symptoms).
Mohamed Zaini: You are referring to Doctor Google here.
Earlier, lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram objected to the request, arguing it was done in “bad faith” and had questioned Rosmah’s sincerity in attending court proceedings, especially as the request was made at the last minute.
“Her only problem is that she suffers from an overdose of publicity and wealth. There is no good reason for her failure to attend court.”
Sri Ram then called for Rosmah’s bail to be rescinded.
“Unless she is examined by a government doctor, we cannot accept this. If she were held in prison, she would be more willing to attend court, ” he said.
Sri Ram also read out Rosmah’s diagnosis in court, which said that she was suffering from severe recurrent neck pain, dizziness and osteoarthritis to the knees.
He said that she was diagnosed as having chronic adrenal insufficiency, a condition she has been suffering from for the past five years.
This was against the wishes of the defence who earlier did not want Rosmah’s medical reports to be read out in court as it had the potential of “embarrassing Rosmah”.
Justice Mohamed Zaini also informed the defence that Rosmah could come to court in a wheelchair.
“I am also quite willing to accommodate her if she needs breaks during the proceedings, ” he said.
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 was accused of soliciting for herself a RM187.5mil bribe from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, 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.
In the second charge, she was accused of receiving RM1.5mil from Saidi as a reward for assisting Jepak Holdings obtain the same project.
All of the charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
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.
ANN
Husband in another court facing corruption charges. Wife in court for graft charges......what a great family....!!!
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