Rosmah’s ex-aide denies conspiring with prosecution

Rosmah Mansor’s former special officer today denied cutting a deal with the prosecution to testify as crown witness against her in her corruption case related to the supply and installation of solar energy to 369 schools in rural Sarawak.

Rizal Mansor also disagreed with Rosmah’s counsel Jagjit Singh that he had made the deal with the prosecution in exchange for the four charges against him being dropped.

Rizal, the 21st prosecution witness, is testifying in the trial of Rosmah who cases one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings’ ex-managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

On Jan 8, Rizal was acquitted and discharged of four charges of soliciting and receiving bribes of RM5.5 million for himself and Rosmah in relation to the solar hybrid project. This came after the prosecution withdrew the charges against him.

When questioned by Jagjit about the charges against him, Rizal, who was placed in the witness protection programme, said the money stated was a political donation.

“The four charges against you were soliciting and receiving bribes for yourself, and you still want the court to believe it is political donation,” said Jagjit, to which Rizal answered yes.

Jagjit asked the question as Rizal had admitted in his witness statement to soliciting and receiving the money in question.

When asked about his salary and assets, Rizal said he owned luxury cars such as an Audi, BMW and Mercedez Benz. He also said he had a house worth RM3.5 million.

When asked to confirm that he had accumulated these assets while possessing the designation of Grade 48 special officer with a salary of about RM7,000, he said yes.

He also acknowledged that he was sponsored by Saidi and his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah when he went to Mecca to perform the umrah in 2016 and 2017.

However, he denied that his travels had been fully funded.

When asked if he had made the trips using corrupt money, Rizal said it was a political donation.

Rosmah was alleged to have received the bribes through Rizal as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the hybrid photovoltaic solar system integrated project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel gen-sets for 369 schools, worth RM1.25 billion, through direct negotiation from the education ministry.

The offences were allegedly committed at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra; Rosmah’s residence at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta and at Seri Perdana, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya between January 2016 and September 2017.

The hearing continues tomorrow before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.