The former PM wife is sentenced to 10 years in jail and RM970m fine

THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has found Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (picture) guilty on all three corruption charges involving a RM1.25 billion hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that the prosecution succeeded in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge then sentenced Rosmah to a total of 30 years’ jail and RM970 million fine, in default 10 years’ jail if she fails to pay the fine.

The court, however, allows Rosmah’s request for a stay of execution of sentences pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Earlier, the courtroom turned sombre when Rosmah was in tears when she told Mohamed Zaini that she was innocent as she never had any thoughts about squandering money.

Giving her statement from the dock, she said she was a victim as she never had solicited any money.

“I hope your honour will consider the fact that I am a woman taking over a man’s role in my house. My Lord, look at me as a woman with compassion, with some humanity.

“Never ever had I touched the money even in Badan Amal dan Kebajikan Tenaga Isteri-Isteri Menteri dan Timbalan Menteri. I don’t know Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd former MD Saidi Abang Samsudin. I advised him not to be cheated. I have never solicited any money. Nobody saw me count the money and bring it upstairs.

“Hear what I want to say. I respect your decision but I want to leave with good memory of what the court is all about. I formed a special court for children (for sexual offences).

“Nobody thought about drug addicts and sat down with those in the government and private sector, and adopted an idea from Unicef to start with the children,” she said in her mitigation for a lenient sentence.

On Feb 18 last year, the wife of former Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak was ordered to enter her defence on the three charges after the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against her.

The former PM wife was charged with soliciting RM187.5 million in gratification and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi.

The bribes were allegedly received through her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated project, as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel generator sets for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25 billion from the Education Ministry through direct negotiation. – Bernama / pic Muhd Amin Naharul