ROSMAH Mansor has claimed trial to a new corruption charge in relation to the solar project for rural schools in Sarawak.

Rosmah, wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, is accused of soliciting RM5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd director Saidi Abang on December 20, 2016, to help the company acquire the solar-hybrid project.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed Rosmah to maintain the bail from her previous case for the new charges.

She was represented by Jagjit Singh and Akberdin Abdul Kader while deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar led the prosecution team.

Rosmah arrived at the Kuala Lumpur courthouse at 8.50am clad in a light green baju kurung with a matching headscarf.

On November 15 last year, Rosmah pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to two counts of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM1.5 million for projects to provide solar energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Dusuki requested RM1 million bail in one surety.

“This is a serious case and it happened when she was the wife of then prime minister (Najib Razak),” he said.

Akberdin argued that in a trial law, bail is to seek the attendance and not to punish the accused. 

“She has already been charged and is a full-time housewife. The RM1 million bail is too high. We request to use the bail from the previous case.”

Azura said the bail will be maintained and the case mentioned on May 10. 

Last year, Rosmah claimed trial to two counts of corruption in relation to the solar-hybrid project.

In the first charge, Rosmah is accused of seeking RM187.5 million from Saidi to help approve a solar project in 369 rural schools in Sarawak, valued at RM1.25 billion through direct negotiations with the Education Ministry.

In the second charge, Rosmah is accused of accepting RM1.5 million from Saidi on September 7, 2017, to help the company acquire the same solar project. – April 10, 2019.