Rosmah insists former aide Rizal conspired with AGC

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor insisted that the prosecution in her solar project trial conspired with her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor to falsely implicate her despite admitting that she had no issues with any officers from the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC), the High Court today heard.

To confirm the matter, senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, then introduced Rosmah, 69, to seven Deputy Public Prosecutors (DPPs) working on her case prior to the court proceeding today, to which Rosmah said "I only know most of them in court".

Among the DPPs introduced by Sri Ram today were Ahmad Akram Gharib, Mohamad Mustafa P. Kunyalam, Poh Yih Tinn and Nadia Mohd Izhar.

Rosmah then asked Sri Ram why was he not introducing himself to which he replied "because I am not from the AGC".

In response to that, Rosmah said "but you were appointed (by the AGC). You have the fiat (letter of authorisation)", but Sri Ram dismissed Rosmah's remarks and requested to 'get on with the case'.

Sri Ram: Your defence consists of the following (Rizal and AGC officers) to hoist a false case on you.

Rosmah: Correct.

Rosmah, however, disagreed that there is no basis that Rizal entered into a conspiracy together with AGC officers to give false evidence against her.

Rosmah, who was clad in yellow baju kurung and a matching scarf was being cross-examined by Sri Ram from the witness stand on the third day of her defence trial on the three corruption charges involving a solar hybrid project worth RM1.25 billion for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Earlier, the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak maintained that Rizal was incompetent when he was working with her but she did not raise it to Rizal directly, but instead to Najib's special officer, Datuk Seri Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod.

"When he first started working with me, he was tasked to write a speech text for me. The language and the content were very 'empty', it wasn't the sort of speech that should be delivered by the wife of the Prime Minister.

Rosmah also said she was not the one who awarded Rizal the 'Datukship', but she has helped in recommending him to Pahang State Secretariat because she pitied him.

Sri Ram: But your recommendation was accepted.

Rosmah: I suppose, I was the wife to the PM.

Further questioned by Sri Ram, Rosmah also denied that she has a habit of asking other people to "get things done" for her when she wanted something.

Sri Ram was giving an example on an occasion where Rosmah had asked her acquaintance, Aizulhaimi Mohd Termizi to lodge a police report on her behalf, to which Rosmah denied and said "I did not ask but he made the proposal (to lodge a police report) to me".

Sri Ram: That is the point I'm making, it is the same when you want monies from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director, Saidi Abang Samsudin but you do it through Rizal.

Rosmah: I disagree.

On Feb 18, the High Court ordered Rosmah to enter her defence on the three charges after finding the prosecution had succeeded in proving a prima facie case against her.

Rosmah is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes and two charges of receiving RM6.5 million grafts from Saidi through Rizal as a gratification to assist Jepak Holdings in securing the Integrated Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic System Project as well as Genset/Diesel Maintenance and Operation for 369 rural schools in Sarawak worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiations from the Ministry of Education.

The trial before Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues on Oct 21.

-- BERNAMA