Rosmah Mansor’s defence team alleges that former Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid wanted a bribe for himself from the solar hybrid project to fund his gambling addiction, the High Court heard on Tuesday (Feb 11).
The defence also accused Mahdzir of turning against former prime minister Najib Razak and his wife to escape from being charged with corruption himself.
Defence counsel Jagjit Singh, during cross-examination, claimed that Mahdzir often travelled on a private jet to Macau, Singapore and Perth to gamble.
Jagjit: When you travelled to Alor Setar, you travelled by private jet?
Mahdzir: I disagree.
Jagjit: You travelled by private jets during campaign periods?
Mahdzir: I disagree.
Jagjit: Did you also use private jets for your gambling trips to Macau, Singapore and Perth?
Mahdzir: I disagree.
Jagjit: What if I get the travel records from the private jet company?
Mahdzir: Okay.
Jagjit: You don’t gamble at all? You need all this money to feed your gambling habits.
Mahdzir: I disagree.
The court was also told that Mahdzir wanted Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to appoint a man named Haji Puad from Kedah as a consultant for the solar hybrid project to act as a conduit for him to receive corrupt money.
Jagjit: You initially asked 20% which will amount to RM250 million, but they disagreed and reduced the amount to RM1 million per month for five years.
Mahdzir: I disagree.
Jagjit: This makes you the most corrupt Education Minister since Aug 31,1957.