Rosmah insists ex-aide conspired with AGC

Rosmah Mansor today insisted in the High COurt that the prosecution in her solar project trial conspired with her former aide Rizal Mansor to falsely implicate her despite admitting that she had no issues with any officers from the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC).

To confirm the matter, senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram introduced Rosmah, 69, to seven deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) who had worked on her case prior to the court proceeding today, to which Rosmah said: “I only know most of them in court.”

Among the DPPs introduced by Sri Ram today were Ahmad Akram Gharib, Mohamad Mustafa P Kunyalam, Poh Yih Tinn and Nadia Mohd Izhar.

Rosmah then asked Sri Ram why he was not introducing himself, to which he replied: “Because I am not from the AGC.”

Rosmah then said: “But you were appointed (by the AGC). You have the fiat (letter of authorisation).”

However, Sri Ram dismissed Rosmah’s remarks and requested to “get on with the case”.

Sri Ram: Your defence consists of the following (Rizal and AGC officers) to hoist a false case on you.

Rosmah: Correct.

She however disagreed that there was no basis for Rizal to enter into a conspiracy with AGC officers to give false evidence against her.

Rosmah was being cross-examined by Sri Ram from the witness stand on the third day of her defence trial on three corruption charges involving a solar hybrid project worth RM1.25 billion for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Earlier, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak maintained that Rizal had been incompetent while was working with her although she did not raise it to Rizal directly but instead to Najib’s special officer, Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod.

“When he first started working with me, he was tasked to write a speech text for me. The language and the content were very empty, it wasn’t the sort of speech that should be delivered by the wife of the prime minister,” she said.

Rosmah also said she was not the one who had awarded Rizal his Datukship, although she had helped in recommending him to the Pahang state secretariat because she pitied him.

Sri Ram: But your recommendation was accepted.

Rosmah: I suppose, I was the wife of the PM.

Further questioned by Sri Ram, Rosmah also denied that she had a habit of asking other people to “get things done” for her when she wanted something.

Sri Ram was giving an example on an occasion where Rosmah had asked her acquaintance, Aizulhaimi Mohd Termizi, to lodge a police report on her behalf. Rosmah denied this, saying: “I did not ask but he made the proposal (to lodge a police report) to me.”

Sri Ram: That is the point I’m making, it is the same when you want monies from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director, Saidi Abang Samsudin but you do it through Rizal.

Rosmah: I disagree.

On Feb 18, the High Court ordered Rosmah to enter her defence on the three charges after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in proving a prima facie case against her.

Rosmah faces one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes and two charges of receiving RM6.5 million from Saidi through Rizal as gratification to assist Jepak Holdings in securing the integrated hybrid solar photovoltaic system project as well as the genset/diesel maintenance and operation for 369 rural schools in Sarawak worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiations from the education ministry.

The trial before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues on Oct 21.