ROSMAH Mansor’s lawyer today accused a prosecution witness of lying under oath in the trial of the former prime minister’s wife over corruption in a solar contract for schools in Sarawak 

Defence lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader said the witness, former Education Ministry secretary-general Alias Ahmad, was lying about the presence of Jepak Holdings director Saidi Abang Samsudin at Alias’ daughter’s wedding.

During cross-examination today, Akberdin asked Alias if he had invited Saidi to his daughter’s wedding, to which the witness said no.

Alias said Saidi had turned up at the event with then education minister Mahdzir Khalid, who was invited.

After the lunch break, Akberdin showed Alias a photo of Saidi embracing Mahdzir at the event.

The lawyer asked Alias why had Saidi embraced Mahdzir if they had come to the wedding together.

Alias replied that it was possible his personal assistant could have extended an invitation to Saidi to the wedding.

Akberdin accused Alias of lying at this point and ended the cross-examination of the witness.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akran Gharib, in his re-examination of the witness, asked Alias about his golf session with Saidi, and Saidi’s presence at his daughter’s wedding.

The DPP asked if the two events had occurred before or after the solar contract was signed.

Alias said both happened after the contract was signed.

Akram: Why did you agree to meet him after (the contract had been signed)?

Alias: Because before a contract is signed, government officers are not allowed to have a relationship with a potential contractor. However, after the contract is signed, they are government partners.

Akram: In that case, is there anything wrong in going for a round of golf or his attending your daughter’s wedding?

Alias: No.

Akram asked why actions were not taken against Jepak for tampering with the contract.

Alias said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had taken the files for investigation, and that the ministry did not take any action because MACC was pursuing the matter.

He told the court he had not benefited from nor did he have a personal interest in the solar project that was awarded to Jepak.

Earlier, Rosmah’s defence team accused Alias of having a vested interest in the project. 

Akberdin said Alias had “interest” in the project because he continuously pressed for the disbursement of a RM130 million advance payment to Jepak Holdings, over the Finance Ministry’s reservations about releasing the money.

Alias was released from the stand today.

The 13th witness, bank manager Wong Ping and 14th witness Muhammad Na’im Mahmod, an assistant investigation officer with MACC, also took the stand today.

Wong read her witness statement and was released without cross-examination.

 Na’im also completed reading his witness statement and will be cross-examined by the defence tomorrow.

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

She is also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017.

 The trial before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues tomorrow. – July 13, 2020.