THE Rosmah Mansor corruption trial heard today that the accused’s former aide, Rizal Mansor had demanded that Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd pay for his family pilgrimage to Mecca.

The trial’s 16th witness, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that Rizal had pestered him to talk Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Bang Samsudin into paying for the trip.

Rayyan and Saidi were business partners at that time.

“He pressured me to convince Saidi to sponsor the umrah trip.

“I then persuaded Saidi to pay for the trip since it was for a religious cause and he agreed,” Rayyan said under cross-examination by defence counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader.

He was testifying in the trial of Rosmah, who is charged with soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving a total of RM6.5 million in connection with a solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Rosmah is alleged to have received the bribe from Saidi, through her aide Rizal.

Rayyan told the court today he did not know how much Saidi gave Rizal for the journey.

Rayyan had earlier testified that Rizal had demanded RM25 million to be paid over a five-year period for helping Jepak Holdings secure the solar hybrid project.

He also told the court that Saidi had told him that Rizal was paid RM500,000 on December 23, 2016 at the latter’s residence in Vista Kirana, Segambut, Kuala Lumpur.

“I was with him when he brought a bag to his residence and gave it to him.

“Later after leaving Rizal’s house, Saidi told me the bag contained RM500,000,” Rayyan said.

Akberdin then asked the witness if he was aware that some RM350,000 was paid to Rizal in seven tranches between 2016 and 2017. Rayyan said Saidi had not mentioned these payments to him.

Rizal has been acquitted of all four charges of soliciting and receiving bribes. He has been placed on a witness protection programme and is expected to appear as a prosecution witness in the case against Rosmah.

The trial before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues tomorrow. – August 4, 2020.