ROSMAH Mansor claimed trial to two counts of corruption in relation to the solar hybrid project for Sarawak schools at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court today.

Sessions judge Azman Ahmad set bail at RM1 million and allowed Rosmah to pay in installments – RM500,000 today and the rest in a week’s time.

The case will be mentioned on December 10.

In the first charge, Rosmah is accused of asking RM187.5 million in gratification from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to help in approving a solar hybrid project in 369 rural schools in Sarawak, valued at RM1.25 billion through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.

The offence is alleged to have been committed between March and April 2016 at a cafe in Sunway Putra Mall in Kuala Lumpur.

In the second charge, Rosmah is accused of accepting RM1.5 million from Saidi Abang on September 7, 2017, to help the company acquire the same solar hybrid project.

She is charged under Section 16(a)(A) Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act for both cases and faces up to 20 years or a fine amounting to five times the amount she received if found guilty for each charge.

She was represented by K. Kumaraendran and Geethan Ram Vincent.

This is Rosmah’s second appearance in court after previously being charged with 17 counts of money laundering and tax evasion.

Her aide, Rizal Mansor, also pleaded not guilty to four charges of graft involving RM218 million at another court.

He was alleged to have solicited the amount on behalf of Rosmah and for himself.

The bribe was to ensure that Urusan Jepak Holdings was awarded the solar hybrid project.

Rizal allegedly received the money from Saidi Abang between March and December 2016.  – November 15, 2018.