KUALA LUMPUR: A partner in the company which was bidding for a RM1.25 billion project to supply solar hybrid energy to schools in Sarawak today revealed how Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor demanded a 15 per cent cut or RM187.5 million for herself.
The witness in Rosmah's corruption trial also revealed how her former aide, Datuk Rizal Mansor, had sought his own cut from the project.
Rizal, who is now under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) witness protection programme, had demanded RM25 million from the company which was to be paid in five instalments of RM5 million per year.
All this was laid bare by Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, who was the 16th prosecution witness in the trial in which Rosmah is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Rosmah is accused of receiving the money from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin in exchange for helping the company secure the project to supply solar hybrid energy to 369 schools in Sarawak.
Reading from a witness statement, Rayyan revealed that Rizal had arranged for him and Saidi to meet with Rosmah at her house in Jalan Langgak Duta in 2016.
Rayyan – who is Saidi's business partner, said it all started from a meeting he, Saidi and Rizal had at the Lygon Bistro at Sunway Putra Mall sometime in January or February of 2016.
He said among issues raised at the meeting was how then-Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid did not seem to respond to Saidi and Jepak's proposal, even though former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had minuted his approval for the project to take off.
Rayyan said Saidi then thought it was best to rope in Rosmah to help ensure things moved.
"At this meeting, Saidi also asked Rizal what he should offer Rosmah, and we were told to offer Rosmah between 10 to 15 per cent of the project value.
"Rizal told us to start with 10 per cent so that we would have some room to negotiate with her," he said.
The 41-year-old, who is now a director at his own company, said he and Saidi eventually ended up in Rosmah's house a few days later where they were escorted in by Rizal.
Rayyan said Rizal eventually introduced them to Rosmah before they started discussing Jepak's project.
"We talked about our proposal and also how we were willing to contribute 10 per cent of the RM1.25 billion project cost to Rosmah.
"However, Rosmah responded by saying that the political scenario then required a lot of money. She said 'we'll see' before we were told to leave."
Rayyan said Rizal met them again later the same evening with news that everything was okay but Rosmah wanted a 15 per cent cut.
However, he said Saidi told Rizal that RM187.5 million was a lot of money and he still needed "to take care" of others to secure the project.
"Saidi asked if the amount could be reduced and Rizal said he would check.
"At the same time, Rizal also asked for his cut of RM25 million to be given to him in five payments of RM5 million each over five years. Saidi was agreeable to this proposal," he said.
Rayyan said Rizal phoned back the next day and informed him that Rosmah would not budge from the RM187.5 million figure.
Shortly after the phone call, Rayyan said he was introduced to one person called Lawrence who worked for Tan Sri Desmond Lim.
"I was told that both of them are close confidantes of Rosmah and all monetary transactions would be handled by Lawrence.
"Lawrence's role was to help Jepak draft out an agreement on the payment of consultancy fees to Rosmah for helping Jepak secure the project," he said.
Rayyan said he was made to understand the agreement had to be prepared to show that Rosmah had received a political donation for helping the company get the project.
The trial before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues.