Thursday hearing on bid to halt fresh evidence in Rosmah’s case

 The prosecution is seeking to stop the High Court from recording further evidence from key witness Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah.

Rosmah Mansor is seeking to introduce fresh evidence in her appeal against her corruption conviction over a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA:

The Court of Appeal will hear the prosecution’s bid on Thursday to stay the recording of additional evidence from a key witness in Rosmah Mansor’s appeal against her corruption conviction over a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project.

The stay application is scheduled to be heard at 9am before a three-member bench.

The hearing comes a week after the Kuala Lumpur High Court fixed Thursday (Sept 17) to record further evidence from prosecution witness Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah. Rosmah’s lawyers were expected to cross-examine Rayyan, followed by re-examination by the prosecution.

A court document sighted by FMT confirmed that the Court of Appeal had fixed the stay application for hearing on Thursday.

The prosecution had filed an appeal to the Federal Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision allowing Rosmah to adduce fresh evidence and subsequently sought a stay of the order.

On Sept 1, the Court of Appeal had directed the High Court to record the additional evidence within two weeks of the case management held on Sept 10.

The Court of Appeal bench, comprising Justices Azhahari Kamal Ramli, Choo Kah Sing and K Muniandy, also rescheduled Rosmah’s appeal hearing to Oct 14-16 and Oct 19-23.

High Court judge Aslam Zainuddin was subsequently tasked with recording the evidence and fixed Sept 17 for the proceedings.

Rosmah had earlier obtained leave to adduce fresh evidence comprising a police report, a statutory declaration sworn by Rayyan and supporting documents.

She contends that the material shows Rayyan was subjected to prosecutorial pressure during the trial and that his evidence against her was compromised.

Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, was convicted by the High Court on Sept 2, 2022, of soliciting RM187.5 million from former Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide Rizal Mansor as an inducement to help the company secure the solar hybrid project.

She was also found guilty of receiving RM5 million from Saidi through Rizal at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya on Dec 20, 2016, and a further RM1.5 million at her Jalan Langgak Duta residence on Sept 7, 2017.

The court sentenced Rosmah to 10 years’ jail and fined her RM970 million, with another 10 years’ jail if she fails to pay the fine. - FMT