KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 5): The 17th prosecution witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s solar graft trial testified that until today, Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd had not received a receipt acknowledging the “political contribution” of RM6.5 million given to her for her husband’s political party, Umno.
The witness is Saidi Abang Samsudin, the managing director of the company that was awarded a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in Sarawak from the Ministry of Education (MoE) in 2016.
Saidi is a key witness in the trial, which entered its 20th day today. Rosmah is being charged for allegedly receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
The payments were part of a contribution of RM187.5 million promised by Saidi to Rosmah, representing 15% of the total value of the project of RM1.25 billion.
He made the payments to Rosmah, as the wife of then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for her assistance in getting her husband’s approval for the project.
Saidi told the court that he initially settled for a 10% contribution, but Rosmah, through her aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, insisted on increasing the percentage to 15%.
Thus, Saidi made the payment in two tranches, the first being the RM5 million which was passed to Rizal in December 2016 in the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya, followed by the RM1.5 million which Saidi, along with consultant Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, personally delivered to Rosmah’s home in September 2017.
As part of the deal, Saidi said lawyer Lawrence Tee, who worked for property tycoon Tan Sri Desmond Lim, had suggested that he legalise the political contribution in writing.
However, it is uncertain if the agreement exists today.
Saidi also revealed during examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Idham Abdul Ghani that he made a monetary offer to Rizal for his help in connecting the company to Rosmah, of which the latter had set the amount at RM20 million.
Senior DPP Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram then took over the examination-in-chief, asking Saidi whether there was any acknowledgement given by Umno, a political party that is part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that Najib was heading.
Sri Ram: You said you gave the money as a political donation. Until today, have you received any receipt from Barisan Nasional or Umno acknowledging the money received?
Saidi: No, I did not.
Sri Ram also asked the witness whether Rosmah had ever protested against the offer and delivery of money, to which he said she did not.
Rosmah is charged with soliciting RM187.5 million bribes for the solar hybrid project and two other counts of receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million in graft from Saidi.
The trial continues tomorrow with the cross-examination of the witness.