ROSMAH Mansor, former Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and an aide to former prime minister Najib Razak were charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions court in rapid succession today for graft.

Rosmah and Tengku Adnan, or Ku Nan as he is commonly called, were charged separately in the same sessions court with proceedings taking less than 30 minutes.

Rosmah was in the dock first, where she was charged with two counts of graft under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, of receiving bribes linked to the RM1.25 billion solar project for rural schools in Sarawak.

In the first charge, Rosmah, dressed in a lime-green veil and yellow baju kurung, is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin between March and April, 2016.

The amount was 15% of the value of the contract, said to be inducement to help the company secure a direct tender from the Education Ministry to build solar panels for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

In the second charge, Rosmah is accused of accepting RM1.5 million from Saidi on Sept 7, 2017, to help Jepak Holdings secure the solar panel project.

If found guilty, she could be jailed up to 20 years and fined not less than five times the value of gratification for each charge.

Tengku Adnan was up next. He was charged with receiving RM1 million from Tan Eng Boon representing Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd on behalf of Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd) which had official dealings with his ministry to increase the density of a plot of land in Jalan Semarak, Juala Lumpur, for development.

He was also charged with receiving RM2 million through an Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd cheque from Chai Kin Kong on June 14, 2016, knowing that Aset Kayamas and five other companies have official business with his ministry to purchase DBKL land to construct 14 affordable home projects in Kuala Lumpur.

He was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code and faces a jail term of up to two years and/or fine for each charge.

Tengku Adnan appeared tired, even to the point of asking the judge if he could sit down while the charges were read out to him. The judge did not allow that.

Meanwhile, in a separate court Najib’s former aide Rizal Mansor was charged with four counts of graft relating to the solar project in Sarawak, which are offences under Section 16 (a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009

Rizal is accused of soliciting or receiving bribes from Saidi on four occasions. He is said to have solicited RM187.5 million for Rosmah from Saidi as an inducement for her assistance in winning the government contract.

He is also accused of soliciting RM25 million for himself. Both offences allegedly happened between March and April 2016.

Rizal is also accused of receiving RM5 million in gratification meant for Rosmah on December 20, 2016 for assisting Jepak Holdings win the government contract, and of receiving RM500,000 in gratification for himself on December 23, 2016.

If found guilty, Rizal can be jailed up to 20 years and fined not less than five times the value of the gratification for each offence.

This is Rosmah’s second appearance in court after she was slapped with 17 counts of money laundering and tax evasion early last month.

Umno supporters were notably absent from today’s proceedings.

Thus far, nine individuals related to Umno or the previous government have been indicted for criminal wrongdoing including top Umno leaders such as former party president Najib, former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.

Umno lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was not spared, and is facing charges of money laundering and tax offences. Shafee is also currently Najib’s lawyer.

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim was charged last week, not for corruption or money laundering, but for allegedly molesting a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Former Treasury secretary Irwan Serigar Abdullah was jointly charged with Najib for six criminal breach of trust offences.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) sources said more Umno leaders are expected to be charged, with ongoing investigations into leaders such as Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim. – November 15, 2018.