ROSMAH Mansor’s former aide Rizal Mansor, who was originally jointly charged with the accused, has been put on the witness protection programme.

This was revealed during the trial today when a prosecution witness was asked to identify Rizal.

Ninth prosecution witness Ahmed Farriq Zainul Abidin, while reading out his testimony, was asked to identify and verify other witnesses in the case, including Rizal.

While other witnesses came into the courtroom via the witnesses’ door – located at the back of the courtroom and next to the accused dock – Rizal entered the courtroom through a front door, which is usually reserved for court staff.

Noticing this, lead defence counsel Jagjit Singh raised the matter with judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, saying it was not right for a witness to utilise the entrance.
 
Jagjit said the room could possibly lead to the judge’s room, and that Rizal’s usage of it did not give a good impression.

Judge Zaini assured Jagjit that such was not the case.

At this point, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib stood up and apologised to the judge, saying he wasn’t sure how Rizal had come in through the front door.

He then revealed that the Rizal was on the witness protection programme, indicating that he would be a prosecution witness in the case against Rosmah.

“I’m not sure how this happened but I know this witness (Rizal) is under a witness protection programme.

“I’m not sure of the security arrangements and how it works but I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Akram said.

Earlier this year, the high court acquitted Rizal of all corruption charges in relation to a solar project in Sarawak, after the prosecution sought to drop all charges against him.

Rosmah, 69, faces three corruption charges, one of which is of soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin as inducement to help his company secure a RM1.25 billion contract to outfit 369 schools in Sarawak with a solar system.

She is also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017. – March 9, 2020.