KUALA LUMPUR: The application for joint trial of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor on corruption and money laundering charges has been postponed to March 21.
Deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the High Court today that Rosmah’s application to transfer her case from Sessions Court to the High Court was still pending.
“We have filed an application to transfer Rosmah’s corruption charges to the High Court and the hearing for the application has been fixed on March 15.
“Thus we cannot continue with the application for joint trail today,” he said at the case management today before High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
He said the prosecution could not file the joint trial application pending decision on the transfer.
Counsel Manjeet Singh Dhillon who represent the accused did not object.
However Manjeet said the defence team would file an application at the court for Sri Ram to produce his fiat (appointment letter as deputy public prosecutor).
The court then set March 21 for case management.
On Nov 15, Rosmah, 67, wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was charged with two counts of soliciting and receiving RM187.5 million and RM1.5 million respectively from Saidi Abang Samsudin, managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The amount was allegedly solicited by Rosmah as an inducement to help the company secure a tender through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry worth RM1.25 billion for a solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel was for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
On the money laundering charges, Rosmah was allegedly engaged in transactions that involved proceeds from unlawful activity by allowing money totalling RM7,097, 750 to be deposited into her account.
Rizal, 44, who at one time served as Rosmah’s aide, was charged with soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to RM218 million on behalf of Rosmah and himself.
On the first charge, he was accused of soliciting RM187.5 million on behalf of Rosmah from Saidi Abang.
According to the charge, the money was an inducement for Rosmah to assist the company in securing the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project as well as the Maintenance and Pperation of the Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25 billion via direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.
On the second charge, Rizal was accused of soliciting RM25 million for himself from the same person to ensure that Rosmah would assist the company with obtaining the project.
The offence was allegedly committed at Lygon Cafe, G-24, Ground Floor, Sunway Putra Mall, 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit between March and April 2016.
On the third charge, he was accused of receiving RM5 million on behalf of Rosmah from the same person as a reward for Rosmah for assisting Jepak Holdings obtain the project through direct negotiation at Pavilion REIT Management Sdn Bhd on Dec 20, 2016.
Rizal was also charged with receiving RM500,000 for himself from the same person as a reward for him in ensuring Rosmah assisted Jepak Holdings obtain the same project, at No 1, Laman Damai Sari, Jalan 1/16, Bukit Segambut on Dec 23, 2016.
The offence falls under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times the total value of the bribe.