A KEY prosecution witness in Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial told Kuala Lumpur High Court today that the former prime minister’s wife did not solicit money from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd for the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

Rizal Mansor, 46, a key witness in the solar trial confirmed this when he was cross-examined by lead defence counsel Jagjit Singh.

Rizal, the trial’s 21st witness, was questioned by Jagjit based on Rizal’s 46-page witness statement, which he read out in court last week.

Jagjit: I put it to you; Rosmah did not seek or solicit money for personal self.

Rizal: I agree.

Jagjit: Can you confirm that Rosmah did not seek or solicit directly from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin and his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah?

Rizal: I can.

At this point, Jagjit put it to Rizal that he got Rosmah involved in this project because Jepak wanted to make a political donation to then prime minister Najib Razak but, since he was busy, they decided to do it through his wife Rosmah, to which Rizal agreed.

Jagjit: Can you confirm that you arranged the first meeting between Saidi, Rayyan and Rosmah only for the reason of political donation and it was your duty to get Rosmah involved?

Rizal: Yes.

Jagjit: Despite you getting her involved, she never at any time asked for or solicited any money?

Rizal: Correct.

Rosmah, 69, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as an inducement to help the company secure the solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

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

Earlier, when Saidi took the stand, he admitted to having offered a political donation to Najib in appreciation for his help to secure a solar hybrid project for the company.

Saidi, the 17th witness in the corruption trial, said since he was unable to meet Najib, as the former prime minister was busy, he decided to pass the political donation through his wife.

Saidi said he and business partner Rayyan came up with the idea of a political donation and they were willing to offer 10% of the project cost.

The first meeting with Rosmah, eventually took place at her Langgak Duta residence in Kuala Lumpur between January and February 2016.

It was then that Saidi allegedly offered Rosmah 10% of the RM1.25 billion project, supposedly as a political contribution.

Later the same day, Saidi said he met Rizal at Lygon Café in Sunway Putra Mall, Kuala Lumpur, where the latter said that Rosmah wanted the political donation to be 15% instead.

Saidi said he tried to bargain down, asking Rizal to convince Rosmah to agree to between 10% to 12%, to which Rizal said he would try.

However, Rosmah still wanted 15%, Saidi said. He was informed of this later the same night by Rayyan, who had spoken to Rizal.

Rizal was earlier charged with four counts of seeking and receiving bribes for himself and Rosmah amounting to RM5.5 million involving the project to supply and install rural school solar energy in Sarawak.

He was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

In a turn of events on January 8, the prosecution dropped all charges against Rizal in return for his testimony against Rosmah and he was later placed in the witness protection programme. – September 14, 2020.