KUALA LUMPUR: The defence team in Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial was admonished by High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan over the breach of the order issued for her trip to Singapore.
Zaini raised this during today’s proceedings, pointing out that he issued an order, dated Oct 15, for Rosmah to return from Singapore before Nov 21.
Previously, the court had allowed the temporary release of Rosmah’s passport for her to travel to Singapore to visit her then pregnant daughter, Nooryana Najwa Najib. Her passport had been surrendered to the court as part of her bail condition.
Rosmah was supposed to return her passport before Dec 6.
She is standing trial on three counts of corruption for allegedly soliciting RM187.5 million from businessman Saidi Abang Samsudin as an inducement to help his company Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd secure a solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth a total of RM1.25 billion, through direct negotiation from the education ministry.
She is also accused of receiving bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Saidi between 2016 and 2017.
“What I read from the media was that she did not come back on Nov 21,” Zaini said, citing reports on a Court of Appeal proceeding last Thursday.
The appeals court was told that Rosmah did not appear in court because she was still in Singapore. She only came to court two days ago.
Zaini wanted an explanation from lawyer Jagjit Singh on why Rosmah did not return home as required.
Jagjit apologised to the court, saying there was an oversight on his part.
“I concede to the court order on Oct 15. When we fixed the date for her return, there was still the quarantine requirement which we took into account.
“However, the change in government policy has waived the quarantine requirement for Singapore under the VTL (vaccinated travel lane),” he said.
Zaini, who was unimpressed by Jagjit’s explanation, said any court order must be adhered to.
“The court order is sacrosanct and must be respected. I would have been minded to grant an extension based on the change in government policy but it does not change the fact that the court order must be respected,” he told the lawyer.
Ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram then said the prosecution raised a similar issue before the appeals court last week during Rosmah’s appeal to disqualify him as the lead prosecutor.
Rosmah’s corruption trial continues on Dec 10 after the court ordered a postponement because she had come in close contact with a Covid-19 patient. - FMT
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