KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): The defence team in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial today asked Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin if he actually delivered RM1.5 million to her residence in September 2017.
Saidi, the prosecution’s 17th witness, was earlier asked why he withdrew RM1.5 million from his bank account on Sept 7, 2017.
The witness testified that he made the withdrawal with the intention of delivering the said amount to Rosmah at her private residence.
Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is being charged with allegedly receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017 respectively as contributions to help his company secure a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in Sarawak.
Saidi earlier testified that he withdrew RM5 million and handed it over to Rosmah’s aide Datuk Rizal Mansor who delivered it to Rosmah’s official residence in Putrajaya.
Defence lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork, however, by referring to Saidi’s bank statement, contended that was not Saidi’s intention.
The lawyer suggested that the witness made the withdrawal to pay for other expenses which accumulated up to RM1.5 million, to which the witness denied.
The lawyer suggested that the witness had no money at the time and therefore went to the bank to make a withdrawal.
“Yes. Generally speaking, when you don’t have money, you go to the bank to withdraw more,” the witness affirmed.
On this, Azrul said the witness would not have made a payment to the accused if he had other expenses to pay for, though the witness contended that he had money kept elsewhere at home or in other bank accounts.
Azrul asked the witness whether he remembered what he told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during the investigation into the case, to which the witness replied that he needed to see the statement to refresh his memory.
A brief argument took place as Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib questioned the defence’s team decision to seek the statement even though the witness had already explained his intention, accusing the defence of going on a "fishing expedition".
“The witness already said many times he withdrew RM1.5 million specifically to be given to the accused. That is his stance,” Ahmad Akram asserted.
Defence lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader then stood up and addressed High Court Judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, stating that the witness may not be telling the truth.
With regard to this, Akberdin expressed the defence's interest to file an impeachment application to retrieve the statement made to the MACC, which would otherwise be privileged.
Parties to the case, however, agreed for the matter to be further deliberated before a formal application is made, and more will be heard in the next hearing in September.
The case continues on Sept 7.