KUALA LUMPUR (July 14): Datuk Rizal Mansor, a former aide to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, had asked for a 15% “contribution” from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd on behalf of the former prime minister’s wife for helping the company to secure a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in 2016 from the education ministry, the High Court was told today.

On top of that, Rizal asked for a RM5 million cut for himself every year for a five-year period, which is also the duration of the project, said Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, a business partner of Jepak.

Testifying in Rosmah’s graft trial, Rayyan said Rizal had advised him and Jepak managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to offer a contribution of 10% to 15% of the value of the hybrid solar project to her.

However, Rizal told Saidi to offer 10% first so that they can negotiate and stop at the level of 15% of the value of the project.

Rayyan said when the trio met Rosmah at her residence in Langgak Duta in 2016, Saidi offered her a 10% contribution but she replied: “The current political situation requires a lot of money... we will see later.”

Then in the afternoon of the same day, Rayyan said he and Saidin met with Rizal for a follow-up meeting in Sunway Putra Mall. He claimed that during the meeting, Rizal said everything was fine but the percentage of the contribution should be increased to 15% because Rosmah wanted 15% of RM1.25 billion, which is the value of the hybrid solar project.

“So the total contribution of 15% is equivalent to RM187.5 million,” Rayyan told the court.

Rayyan explained that he and his business partner Saidi had decided to meet Rosmah after they were unsuccessful in getting former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid to help secure the project from the education ministry.

The RM1.25 billion project involved the supply of solar hybrid energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Rayyan also testified that the kickback is meant to be paid as a “political contribution” to Rosmah through a firm based in Taiwan. This was to be arranged by one Lawrence, who worked for Tan Sri Desmond Lim.

"(At the time) I knew that Tan Sri Desmond Lim and Lawrence are Datin Seri Rosmah's confidants. Saidi and I were also informed by Datuk Rizal Mansor that any handing over of money to Rosmah would be made through Lawrence," he told the court.

According to Rayyan, Lawrence's role is to help Jepak prepare an agreement for the payment in the form of “consultancy fee” to Rosmah for helping Jepak secure the hybrid solar and diesel generator project in Sarawak.

"I understood this was the agreed way to transfer the 'political donation' to Rosmah in return for the help she gave to Jepak," he added.

Rosmah is facing charges of soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak between January and April 2016, and allegedly receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million in 2016 and 2017.

Rayyan will resume his testimony tomorrow before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.