The former PM’s wife says she has no position in the govt which denies her any authority in approving govt projects

by ASILA JALIL / pic by BERNAMA

DATIN Seri Rosmah Mansor (picture) claimed that the corruption charges against her were malicious to her and her family before breaking down in tears at the witness stand yesterday.

During her testimony during proceedings for the corruption trial relating to the solar hybrid project in Sarawak yesterday, Rosmah said the court should have pressed charges against other prosecution witnesses like former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, former education ministry secretary general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad and her former special officer Datuk Rizal Mansor.

She questioned why they were called as witnesses instead.

“This is so they could point their fingers at me, who had no position in the government and had no power to approve government projects.

“This is a malicious and selective prosecution against me,” she said before she broke down.

Rosmah was charged with soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings MD Saidi Abang Samsudin through Rizal.

It was reported that the funds were used to help Jepak Holdings to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic

Solar System Integrated Project, and maintenance and operation of genset/diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiation with the Education Ministry.

Responding to allegations that she pestered Mahdzir, Madinah and Madinah’s successor Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad to expedite the approval for the solar project, Rosmah said she would seek assistance from her husband Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was then the prime minister (PM) and finance minister.

She, however, told the High Court that the former PM had reminded her to not interfere with government matters or meet any contractors with regards to the project.

She added that she had held on to the principle of not interfering in government administration including facilitating contractors to obtain the project for rural schools in Sarawak.

Rosmah allegedly committed the offence at Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra; her residence at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta and at Seri Perdana, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Presint 10, Putrajaya, between January 2016 and September 2017.

The charges were framed under Section 6(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same law, which provides an imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if found guilty.