A witness told the High Court in Rosmah Mansor’s corruption case that his friend had given RM5 million in cash to an individual known by the initials “RM”.
Razak Othman said his friend and business partner Saidi Abang Samsudin, who is Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director, had told him the purpose of the RM5 million several months after both men delivered the money, packed in two suitcases, to a building located next to the Pavilion shopping mall.
Saidi was said to have paid kickbacks to the former prime minister’s wife to help his company secure the government’s RM1.25 billion solar project for Sarawak schools.
“However, I did not ask Saidi for more details on who ‘RM’ was because I felt that he was purposely hiding the details from me,” Razak said.
Razak told the court that he and Saidi had gone to the Maybank branch in Jalan Tuanku. However, he could not recall the date.
They then went to Sogo to buy two black suitcases before returning to the bank to get the RM5 million.
“Saidi’s driver, Shamsul Rizal Sharbini, drove us from Maybank to Sogo and then back to Maybank.
“When we returned to the bank with the suitcases, we went into a room known as ‘bilik tunai’, where I saw Saidi took the money from the counter and he asked me to count them,” he said.
Razak said the money, in RM100 denomination, was packed in transparent plastic.
He then packed the money into the two suitcases, with each suitcase containing RM2.5 million.
“When Saidi and I exited the bank, we went straight to Saidi’s Range Rover that was waiting for us outside Maybank and put both luggage bags in the vehicle compartment space. After that, I asked to be excused but Saidi instead asked me to come along with him.
“He, however, did not tell me who or what purpose the money was for. I only agreed to follow him on the grounds that we are friends
Razak then recalled that the Range Rover was boarded by an unknown individual, who along with another vehicle, had escorted them to Pavilion Residences.
“The man sat next to me in the back while Saidi sat in the front passenger seat. The man did not speak to any of us,” Razak said.
When they reached their destination, Razak said he and Saidi each carried a suitcase and they were ushered into a meeting room.
“I saw two men in the meeting room, but I didn’t know who they were. I put the suitcase that I was carrying in a corner and walked out. Saidi remained in the room.
“About 15 minutes later, Saidi came out and told me to bring the suitcase I had left inside the room to the lobby area,” he said.
Razak told the court that he could feel the money was still inside the suitcase as it was heavy.
“Saidi and I placed the suitcases into the back of a multipurpose vehicle.
“We left the lobby after we put the suitcases into the vehicle, and Shamsul drove us back to Maybank Jalan Tuanku, where I had parked my car,” he said, adding that the unknown man was no longer with them.
Previously, Shamsul had testified that he drove Saidi and Razak to the Pavillion mall area where he saw the suitcases being transferred into the back of a Toyota Vellfire.
Maybank officer, Azimah Aziz had testified that Saidi withdrew RM6.5 million in cash from his account at the Medan Tuanku branch between 2016 and 2017.
The hearing continues on March 9 before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, after Rosmah’s lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork said the defence team needed time to go through Saidi’s witness statement which is related to Razak’s testimony.
Rosmah is facing three counts of corruption charges for allegedly soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as an inducement to help Jepak Holdings secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The education ministry project is worth a total of RM1.25 billion through direct negotiations.
She was also accused of receiving bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Saidi between 2016 and 2017.