Verdict in Rosmah’s graft case moved to Sept 1

The High Court today set Sept 1 as the new date for delivering its judgment on Rosmah Mansor’s corruption case involving a RM1.25 billion hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

The date was fixed by deputy registrar Catherine Nicholas during case management in her chambers, attended by deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn and Rosmah’s lawyers Jagjit Singh and Akberdin Abdul Kader.

Akberdin told reporters that the defence was asked to attend the case management proceedings today in a letter dated June 29.

“The (relevant) parties turned up today and the court rescheduled the judgment date to Sept 1, at 9am,” he said.

Poh, who confirmed the matter, said judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan wanted to deliver his ruling in August but the parties concerned only agreed to a September date.

Zaini had earlier set July 7 for delivering his decision on whether to acquit or convict the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak of her three corruption charges.

On Feb 18 last year, Rosmah, 70, was ordered to enter her defence against the three charges after the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against her.

She faces one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

The bribes were allegedly received through her former aide Rizal Mansor as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the hybrid photovoltaic solar system integrated project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel generator sets for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25 billion from the education ministry through direct negotiation.

On June 24 this year, Rosmah filed her latest application to challenge the appointment of Gopal Sri Ram as senior deputy public prosecutor in the corruption case and asked for the whole trial, which started in 2018, to be declared null and void.

The application for leave for judicial review will be heard before High Court judge (appeals and special powers) Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid on July 6.

Rosmah had earlier filed a similar application at the Criminal High Court in Kuala Lumpur. However, her application was rejected by the High Court, as were her appeals on this application to the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.