DAY 14 | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, will today be facing the 14th day of her corruption trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
She is facing three charges pertaining to the alleged misappropriation of funds for the supply and installation of solar energy at 369 rural schools in Sarawak for the Education Ministry.
The project was valued at RM1.25 billion, and awarded to Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd through direct negotiation.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- MOE accused of showing more interest on payment than Jepak
- Not a single sen paid for solar hybrid project, witness says
- Witness is not the one on trial, judge tells defence
Court adjourns early for the day
12.39pm - Defence counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader informs judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that both the prosecution and defence have agreed for the court to adjourn early today.
It is learned that this was to allow the prosecution to prepare for continuation of the 1MDB trial against former premier Najib Abdul Razak, which is scheduled to resume at 2pm.
Before adjourning the hearing, Zaini asks Akberdin how much more time he needs for the defence's cross-examination on the 12th prosecution witness, former Education Ministry director-general Alias Ahmad.
To this, Akberdin says he needs about two more hours.
Zaini then reminds Akberdin again to stick his line of questioning to matters related to the charges against the latter's client, Rosmah Mansor.
The hearing is adjourned, and scheduled to resume on April 6.
Defence accuses MOE of showing more interest on payment than Jepak
12.15pm - Rosmah Mansor's defence attorney Akberdin Abdul Kader again presses prosecution witness Alias Ahmad on the Education Ministry's interest in the solar hybrid project.
Akberdin puts to Alias, who is a former Education Ministry director-general, that the ministry was the one that showed much interest in getting advance payment for Jepak Holdings compared to the company itself.
The lawyer says that while Jepak did not write any letter to the Education Ministry or to Alias to speed up the payment, the latter had been constantly communicating with the Finance Ministry on the matter.
"So, I put it to you, that the one that cares much about this payment is the ministry. They (Jepak) did not even write a letter to you. It was the Education Ministry that cared (about the advance payment), that you wrote letters to MOF," Akberdin says.
Alias, however, disagrees with the suggestion.
11.42am - Trial resumes after a short break.
11.27am - Court goes for a short break.
Not a single sen paid for solar hybrid project, witness says
10.45am - Former Education Ministry director-general Alias Ahmad tells the court that no payment had been made by the government for the solar hybrid project in Sarawak.
Alias, who is the 12th prosecution witness, says this when correcting defence lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader over advance payment that the ministry requested from the Finance Ministry in 2016 to pay to Jepak Holdings.
The witness says that the Education Ministry requested the advance payment for works related to diesel genset at schools in Sarawak, and not for the solar hybrid project.
"This payment is not for the solar hybrid. This is for the (diesel) genset.
"Not a single sen was ever paid for solar hybrid," he says.
Judge reminds defence attorney that witness is not the one on trial
10.21am - Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan rebukes the defence team for pressuring a witness and accusing the latter of being corrupt.
This comes as Rosmah Mansor's attorney Akberdin Abdul Kader (above, right) accuses former Education Ministry director-general Alias Ahmad of having a vested interest in the solar hybrid project.
Akberdin claims that this was why Alias had allegedly made a phone call to a Finance Ministry officer, purportedly to ask the latter to approve advance payment for Jepak Holdings.
"I put it to you, that you took the initiative to call him (MOF officer Othman Semail) after receiving his rejection letter because you have a vested interest in this project," Akberdin says.
Alias replies in the negative with "disagree".
"He is not the one on trial," Zaini then tells Akberdin.
Counsels, witness ready for hearing
10.03am - Trial resumes before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge, Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
10am - Rosmah Mansor, wife of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, enters the accused dock as the hearing is about to start for the day.
Also present in court is 12th prosecution witness Alias Ahmad, who is former Education Ministry director-general, who had taken his seat at the witness stand.
Rosmah's defence lawyers Akberdin Abdul Kader and Jagjit Singh, as well as deputy public prosecutors, have also taken their seats in the courtroom.
The criminal trial against Rosmah Mansor, who is the wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, regarding a solar hybrid project continues for its 14th day today.
It is expected to resume with testimony by former Education Ministry director-general Alias Ahmad, who is the 12th prosecution witness.
Yesterday, Alias testified in court that he had received a minute from Najib ordering him to pay Jepak Holdings RM130 million in advance.
According to him, the minute was written on a letter by Jepak to Najib, which Alias received through Whatsapp message.
However, according to the witness, the Finance Ministry had rejected the request to pay Jepak the RM130 million advance, citing that only 25 percent or RM10 million can be paid to a company in advance of a project, whichever is higher.
Alias also testified that he was contacted by Rizal Mansor, who was the then aide to Rosmah, asking that payments to Jepak be sped up.
The defence's cross-examination which started later on the same day saw Rosmah's lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader pressing the witness, including accusing Alias of failing to take charge of the ministry as its supervising officer. - Mkini
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