The former coordinator of the First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM) Division under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod has been placed under Covid-19-related mandatory quarantine.
As a result, the Kuala Lumpur High Court today postponed Rosmah Mansor's corruption trial over a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
During open-court proceedings before trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, defence counsel Azrul Zulkifli Stork said that the last defence witness, Siti Azizah, was unable to attend today as she was still under a seven-day mandatory quarantine.
The lawyer explained that it was caused by the cancellation of the witness' flight from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur on Jan 28, causing her to take another flight that led to her late arrival in Malaysia on Jan 29.
Previously, the court was informed by the defence that Siti Azizah was performing her umrah in Saudi Arabia but that she would be available to be cross-examined by the prosecution in court proceedings on Feb 4.
In past proceedings, Siti Azizah testified that civil servants did not perceive Rosmah as overbearing.
The prosecution contended that Rosmah was overbearing in nature, which allowed her to exercise considerable influence in the public sector despite occupying no official position, and thus allegedly permit her to solicit and receive bribes.
"Siti Azizah is under a Home Surveillance Order. She was initially scheduled for a flight from Abu Dhabi to Malaysia (and she could arrive in Malaysia on) Jan 28.
"But the flight was cancelled. Thus she only arrived in Malaysia on Jan 29 (via another flight)," Azrul told the court today, as Rosmah looked on from the dock.
However, a visibly displeased Zaini then queried about being informed by Azrul in earlier proceedings that Siti Azizah was scheduled to arrive in Malaysia on Jan 20 instead rather than Jan 28.
Deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram then suggested that perhaps there was a misunderstanding back then caused by Azrul's pronunciation of the dates.
"Well, that changes everything. Today was supposed to be the last day of trial. Well, I accept your explanation," Zaini said.
The judge then fixed for trial to resume on the afternoon on Feb 15 and directed the DPPs and defence lawyers to vacate any other trials and proceedings they may have at other courts to focus on the Feb 15 proceedings.
Besides Azrul, other members of Rosmah's defence team included Akberdin Abdul Kader and Jagjit Singh.
RM7 million money laundering, tax evasion case
Rosmah, 70, is facing three charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.
In the first charge, she is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd to help secure the Education Ministry project.
The RM1.25 billion project was intended to supply power to 369 rural schools in Sarawak using a combination of solar and diesel energy.
In the second and third charges, she is accused of receiving RM1.5 million and RM5 million in bribes, respectively, as a reward for securing the project.
On Feb 18 last year, the High Court ordered Rosmah to enter her defence, following its finding that the prosecution succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against her.
Rosmah also has a pending RM7 million money laundering and tax evasion case that has yet to go for a full hearing. - Mkini
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