ROSMAH Mansor had about 40 cybertroopers disseminating political propaganda on social media, her former aide testified in her corruption trial today.

Rizal Mansor, a key prosecution witness, revealed that the group of cybertroopers included controversial blogger Papagomo.

The team was tasked with monitoring and countering negative news about Rosmah on social media, he told the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“There were three to four team leaders in each team, and the names included Papagomo, Parpukari, The Unspinners. The team leaders were paid RM5,000 monthly. I can give the complete list later.

“Besides them, there were around 12 to 15 bloggers and around 30 Facebookers,” Rizal told the court when cross-examined by lead defence counsel Jagjit Singh.

Rizal said the cybertroopers tasked with carrying out propaganda on Facebook were paid RM1,500 to RM2,000 a month, while the bloggers were paid RM3,000.

He added it was normal for politicians and political parties to engage cybertroopers to promote or propagate political views online.

Rizal became a media officer for Rosmah in 2009 under a division called “First Lady of Malaysia” (FLOM), a special department dedicated to managing the affairs of the prime minister’s wife.

He served in the department until May 2018.

Last week, Rizal, the trial’s 21st witness, had said that in 2012, under Rosmah’s instructions, he had set up a team of cybertroopers to monitor social media content that was critical of her, and paid RM100,000 monthly to manage and sustain the team.

Rizal said Rosmah was concerned about her image, reputation and public perception of her status as the prime minister’s wife.

Today, Rizal said that Rosmah had funded cybertroopers from 2012 until 2018.

However, Jagjit asserted to the witness that the money was not from Rosmah but from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for the use of the FLOM department.

Rizal replied to say he couldn’t confirm the source of money, adding that he would take the cash from Rosmah on a monthly basis for this purpose.

Jagjit: Amount came from PMO, not from Rosmah personally. It came from the office of the first lady?

Rizal: I can’t confirm the source but I took it from her hand.

Jagjit: (Was the money) not from her personal bank account?

Rizal: I can’t confirm that.

On whether he had obtained any receipts for the monthly payments, Rizal said he did not.

Jagjit then accused Rizal of pocketing part of the monthly allocation, saying this is the reason why he could not produce any receipts.

Jagjit: You claimed money for cybertroopers but you paid them bits and pieces and took a large chunk for yourself.

Rizal: Disagree.

Jagjit: I put to you that part of your duties involved dealing with the media. You wouldn’t need any money for cybertroopers if you did your job, but you failed.

Rizal: Subjective.

Jagjit: You failed in your duties because you were soliciting money for your foundation (Yayasan Perdana Ummah) and for your lavish lifestyle?

Rizal: Disagree.

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

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 a witness protection programme.

Rosmah, 69, faces three corruption charges, one of which is for soliciting RM187.5 million 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 in 2016 and 2017. – September 17, 2020.