May 18 hearing for Rosmah's appeal on judicial review bid over Sri Ram's appointment

The Court of Appeal has set May 18 next year for the hearing of an appeal by Rosmah Mansor on her judicial review to challenge former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram's appointment as lead prosecutor in her RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project graft case.

Her lawyer, Akberdin Abdul Kader, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed that the hearing date was fixed following case management before the appellate court’s deputy registrar Mariam Hasanah Othman today.

On Aug 30, the Kuala Lumpur High Court refused to give Rosmah leave to commence a judicial review to challenge Sri Ram's appointment as lead prosecutor in her case.

Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, filed the application for leave to initiate a judicial review at the High Court on June 24, naming the attorney-general/public prosecutor, the government and Sri Ram as respondents. 

She sought a declaration that Sri Ram's appointment as senior deputy public prosecutor through three letters of appointment (fiat) dated July 8, 2020,  May 11 and May 21, 2021 was unlawful.

She also sought a declaration that the entire prosecution proceedings and full trial for her solar case from Nov 15, 2018 until the defence closed the case were invalid and void, and that she must be acquitted of all charges under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009.

Prior to the judicial review, Rosmah had applied to disqualify Sri Ram but this was dismissed by justice Mohamed Zaini, who presided over her solar hybrid corruption trial.

Her appeals to the Court of Appeal and Federal Court were also dismissed.

High Court judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid dismissed Rosmah's application for leave to initiate a judicial review two days before Zaini was scheduled to deliver his verdict in her graft case.

On Sept 1, Zaini found Rosmah guilty of the corruption charges. He sentenced her to 10 years in jail and fined her RM970 million.

Rosmah was charged with soliciting RM187.5 million in addition to two counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide Rizal Mansor, as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure a RM1.25 billion project to provide solar hybrid energy for 369 schools in rural Sarawak.

She has filed an appeal against her conviction and sentence, which is pending in the Court of Appeal. 

Rosmah was released on bail of RM2 million pending her appeal.