A DRIVER of a businessman who allegedly bribed Rosmah Mansor had stuffed bundles of RM100 notes into two backpacks and delivered them to her home in Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur, the high court heard at the start of her graft trial.

The trial, in its first week, saw the prosecution’s fourth witness Shamsul Rizal Sharbini testify how he handled massive amounts of cash on two occasions in 2016 and 2017.

Shamsul said in late 2016, he had helped his boss, Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, stuff so much cash into two luggage bags that they could only be carried one at a time.

Those bags were delivered to a private residence in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, which prosecutors said was linked to Rosmah.

Shamsul again delivered money to a residence in Taman Duta in late 2017, which belonged to Rosmah and her husband, former prime minister Najib Razak. On both occasions, Shamsul could not recall exact dates but said he had seen Saidi interact with Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor.

Rosmah, 69, is claiming trial to one count of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving a total of RM6.5 million for the project to provide electricity to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

In the charge sheet, she is accused of receiving RM5 million at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, on December 20, 2016 and a further RM1.5 million at Seri Perdana Residence, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya, on September 7, 2017.

Former education minister Mahdzir Khalid also testified at the trial on how he was pressured by Rosmah as well as Saidi and Najib, to expedite the approval of the electricity project, a hybrid solar power project to replace the current diesel generators.

Mahdzir told the court Rosmah told him at a buka puasa event in June 2016: “You tengokla project solar Cikgu Aazmey. Cepatkan sikit.”

The witness identified Cikgu Aazmey as Aazmey Abu Talib, the Pekan Umno secretary and former Pahang state education director, who was part of Saidi’s group that had interest in the electricity project.

Eventful first week

Rosmah’s trial began two days later than scheduled, after she handed over a medical certificate saying she was ill. On Wednesday, she arrived in court with an emergency medical service vehicle in tow.

She walked unassisted, declining the use of a wheelchair offered by the presiding judge, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram put forward the prosecution’s case in an invective opening statement: “The accused is the wife of the former prime minister. By herself, she occupied no official position. However, she wielded considerable influence by reason of her overbearing nature.”

Later that day, a witness from the Prime Minister’s Office testified to her influence, saying a new department, the First Lady of Malaysia Unit, was formed soon after Najib was appointed prime minister in April 2009.

The name was dropped after a public backlash, the witness said. By law, the wife of the prime minister carries no official title.

Rosmah’s trial is being held adjacent to another courtroom that is hearing the SRC International case, where Najib faces seven criminal charges.

Najib, who was present during Rosmah’s case on Wednesday, was told to stop attending his wife’s trial by the judge, who said his presence may affect her case.

The couple each face up to 20 years’ jail, if convicted in their respective trials. – February 9, 2020.