DEBUNKED

Rosmah’s Bribe Trial: Prosecution Concludes Its Case

December 11, 2020

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The prosecution in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial relating to the solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak closed its case today after calling 23 witnesses over 33 days of hearing.

Prosecution fails to admit audio clips released by MACC as evidence to show Rosmah’s character and her “overbearing” nature
Prosecution offers 10 witnesses, including Najib, to the defence
Defence accused Mahdzir of practising selective memory

Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram told High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that the prosecution was closing its case after its fifth witness, former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who was recalled for cross-examination by the defence, completed giving his evidence.

Mahdzir, who has constantly frustrated Rosmah’s lawyers with his answers by either denying knowledge of events or stating that he had forgotten what transpired, again had the defence on tenterhooks with his replies.

After repeatedly giving the same answers again today, Rosmah’s visibly exasperated counsel Jagjit Singh shot out that the lapse in Mahdzir’s memory must have been caused by the Covid-19 virus.

Mahdzir, who remained unfazed by Jagjit’s statement, replied in an equally sarcastic tone: “Yes, it must be.”

Jagjit: You are lying in this court. You are practising selective memory…even my 5-year-old grandson will be able to tell.

Mahdzir: You don’t have to bring your grandson into all this. This is not Parliament where you can say anything you want.

Jagjit: I wish I was in Parliament.

Mahdzir was further put under the hammer by Rosmah’s other counsel, Akberdin Abdul Kader, who accused the Umno politician of lacking any credibility and integrity to be testifying as a witness in the trial.

However, Mahdzir, who is now Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) chairman, responded by saying that he disagreed with such an opinion.

Jagjit again questioned him on news reports that said he would be charged with corruption for allegedly soliciting and receiving money from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

“That was why your lawyer had struck a deal with the prosecution for you to testify against my client,” Jagjit said.

Mahdzir said he disagreed with Jagjit’s suggestion.

The lawyer then pressed Mahdzir on his media statement in May in which he threatened to sue those who tried to link him with corruption claims.

Mahdzir said he could not recall the media statement.

When Mahdzir first testified in February, Jagjjit accused him of being the “most corrupt” education minister ever for agreeing to approve a solar project in Sarawak in exchange for RM60 million in kickbacks.

Mahdzir denied the accusations.

Zaini ordered both parties to file their written submissions, the defence by Dec 28 and the prosecution by Jan 4 next year, and for the defence to reply to the prosecution on Jan 29 next year.

The judge also fixed Feb 10 next year for the parties to appear before him for oral clarification, before deciding whether to acquit Rosmah, 69, of the corruption charges or order her to enter her defence.

Sri Ram had earlier said the prosecution was offering 10 prosecution witnesses, including former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the defence.

Zaini turned down the prosecution’s application to include as court evidence the audio recording of an alleged conversation involving Rosmah and her husband Najib and its transcript.

“I am disinclined to allow the audio recording and transcript to be admitted as prosecution evidence,” he said.

Rosmah faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as an inducement to help the company secure a RM1.25 billion solar project for 369 rural schools.