ROSMAH Mansor’s former aide, Rizal Mansor, today agreed with the defence’s suggestion that a “political donation” of RM5 million by Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd was intended for then prime minister Najib Razak.  

Rizal, 46, a key witness in the trial, agreed that Jepak had always wanted to make a donation to Najib for his role in helping the company secure a RM1.25 billion contract to install solar hybrid systems in 369 rural Sarawak schools. 

Rizal, the 21st witness, agreed to lead defence counsel Jagjit Singh’s assertion that Rosmah was not the intended recipient of the RM5 million donation and that it was Jepak’s suggestion to channel the funds through her. 

Jagjit: Would you agree with me, based on the evidence, the political donation by Jepak was ultimately meant for Najib to be used for the forthcoming elections for Barisan Nasional?

Rizal: Yes, I agree. 

Jagjit: The company (Jepak) wanted to meet Rosmah because they intended to meet her to make a political donation in gratitude of Najib’s help?

Rizal: Yes.

Yesterday, Rizal agreed to get Rosmah involved in this project because Jepak wanted to make a political donation to Najib. 

Jepak’s managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin and his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah also testified they intended to make a political donation to Najib. 

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.

Rizal, however, disagreed to Jagjit’s claim that Rosmah had never solicited, negotiated or received the political donation from Jepak Holdings. 

Jagjit said that it was Rizal who negotiated the percentage of political donations with Jepak, proposing the value of 10% of the entire project cost and later increasing it to 17%, claiming it was done entirely for his own purpose of climbing up the political ladder with Umno.

Jagjit also accused Rizal of personally pocketing the RM5 million that was meant as political donation for Najib, which he denied. 

Jagjit: It defies logic, for you to say Rosmah increased the amount when it was not meant for her, but was meant for Najib to be used for the general election. 

Rizal: I disagree.

Jagjit: The donation solicited and received from Jepak, Saidi and Rayyan was transferred through you, then through Rosmah and then finally to Najib.

Rizal: I cannot confirm

Jagjit: But in your evidence it says that it was meant for political donation for Najib. 

Rizal: Purpose for Najib, yes. Execution I can’t confirm. 

Jagjit: Based on your evidence, I put it to you, the money was never received by Rosmah?

Rizal: I strongly disagree. 

When reading his witness statement last week, Rizal admitted to having solicited RM25 million, where he wanted a payable amount of RM5 million per year spread over a period of five years. 

He agreed to have received RM500,000 from Saidi and Rayyan in December 2016, as part of the RM5 million a year payment. 

Rizal told the court that Saidi had called him on the night of delivery and that he wanted to send “Musang King durian” to him, a codeword for cash between the trio. 

Jagjit suggested that the codeword “Musang King durian” meant corrupt monies, which Rizal agreed.

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 solar energy systems in Sarawak rural schools.

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

However, 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.

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.

The trial ended early today because Rosmah was having a toothache and that she had to visit the dentist. 

The trial before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan will continue on Thursday.  – September 15, 2020.