KUALA LUMPUR (May 12): The High Court on Thursday (May 12) fixed July 7 to deliver its decision on Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's solar hybrid graft trial.
Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan fixed the date following mention of the case.
"We have reached the end of the road with this case and today, it is time to end the journey to fix a date to give a decision.
"I propose to deliver it two months from today and fix July 7 to deliver it," he said.
The court had concluded Rosmah's first trial on Feb 23 after 43 days of hearing where 23 prosecution and two defence witnesses including Rosmah herself were called. The other defence witness was former First Lady of Malaysia department director Datuk Seri Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod.
Earlier, the prosecution led by senior Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who appeared with DPPs Ahmad Akram Gharib and Poh Yin Tinn, only submitted a Federal Court authority made last April 30 for the court's consideration.
While Rosmah's counsels led by Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader tried to impress on Justice Zaini to hear oral submissions, the judge said his decision will be based on written submissions.
“Rest assured, I will read the defence's submission to the prosecution's submission yesterday (Wednesday), and also the reply to this authority handed by the prosecution today. I will accommodate two weeks or more for you to reply to what Sri Ram had handed,” the judge added.
Rosmah, 70, is charged with soliciting a RM187.5 million bribe out of the RM1.25 billion project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, which was awarded to then Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin between January and April 2016 through her aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.
The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also faces two charges of receiving a total of RM6.5 million — RM1.5 million and RM5 million from Saidi between Dec 20, 2016 and Sept 7, 2017 — at her official residence in Seri Perdana, Putrajaya and also her private residence in Jalan Langgak Duta.
She was ordered to enter her defence on Feb 21. Her graft trial began on Feb 6, 2020 and the prosecution took 34 days to put their case before her defence was called by Justice Zaini.
Among the witnesses who testified for the prosecution were former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, the ministry's secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad, her successor Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad, Rizal, as well as Saidi and his former business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah.
Rizal, an aide in the Prime Minister's Office during Najib's time, emerged as the crown witness in the case as he testified against Rosmah.
He was initially charged with graft along with Rosmah, but was acquitted when the charges against him were withdrawn on Jan 8, 2020 before the start of her trial.
Rizal was slapped with four charges of seeking and receiving bribes for himself and Rosmah amounting to RM5.5 million involving the project to supply and instal rural school solar energy in Sarawak. He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Rosmah's defence team had argued that despite not calling Najib as a defence witness, the defence had successfully raised reasonable doubt and hence she should be acquitted.
On the other hand, the prosecution said Rosmah's defence was just a bare denial and that the non-calling of her husband had affected her defence.