ROSMAH Mansor’s former aide Rizal Mansor denied negotiating a deal with the prosecution to save himself from being jointly charged with her in the solar hybrid project corruption case, the Kuala Lumpur High Court heard today. 

The trial’s 21st prosecution witness disagreed with lead counsel Jagjit Singh’s suggestion he had cut a deal with the prosecution to testify as a “crown witness” against his former employer in return to have all his four previous charges in the case be dropped.

Jagjit: In light of the evidence given in your witness statement, I put it to you that it is blatantly clear that you entered a deal with the prosecution to become a crown witness and testify against your former boss Rosmah in consideration that all four charges against you are withdrawn and acquitted.

Rizal: No, my lordship.

Rizal was earlier slapped with four charges 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.

On January 8 this year however, the prosecution withdrew all charges against Rizal, and he was later put on a witness protection programme. 

During the trial today, Jagjit read all the four charges and asked Rizal if he had knowledge of the charges and the money involved in it, to which Rizal agreed and answered it was a political donation.

Jagjit said Rizal’s answers in court today were different to what he had first said when he was charged.

The lawyer said this was because Rizal had entered a “criminal conspiracy” with the prosecution.

Jagjit: I put it to you, when you claimed trial for the four charges you lied to the lordship but now unashamedly you agree that you solicited and received money. You scandalised this court by providing a dishonest answer.

Rizal: Disagree.

Jagjit: I put to you, you entered into a criminal conspiracy with the prosecution, cut a deal with them in consideration they drop the charges and you testify for them.

Rizal: Disagree.

Jagjit: Based on your evidence, I put to you that you’re the biggest corrupt, dishonest, contemptible and dishonest person. You’re the worst.

Rizal: No. I disagree.

Jagjit also questioned Rizal on his luxurious lifestyle despite earning about RM7,000 per month being media officer for Rosmah under a division called “First Lady of Malaysia” (FLOM), a special department dedicated to manage the affairs of the prime minister’s wife. 

Under cross-examination by Jagjit, Rizal agreed to owning a house worth approximately to RM3.5 million and several luxury cars, including an Audi, BMW and a Mercedes Benz. 

On another matter, Rizal also admitted to having his pilgrimage visit to Mecca partially sponsored by Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin and his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah.

Jagjit: One of your umrah trips was sponsored by Saidi and Rayyan?

Rizal: Partly.

Jagjit: I put it to you, you tak malu (embarrassed) to go to a holy land with corrupt monies?

Rizal: No.

Jagjit: You made the trip using corrupt monies.

Rizal: It’s a political donation.

Jagjit: If it’s a political donation, you wouldn’t have faced four charges in the beginning.

Rizal: Disagree.

Besides this, Rizal also admitted to the court of having solicited more money from Saidi for various purposes, with one being his intention to contest for Umno Youth chief’s post in 2017, which was later postponed.

Rosmah, the 69-year-old wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as inducement to help Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd secure the solar hybrid project in Sarawak. 

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

The trial before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues tomorrow. – September 14, 2020.