RIZAL Mansor told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that he was protecting Rosmah Mansor when he dropped off a police escort, before delivering RM5 million in cash to her residence.

He said he parted company with the police officer at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Putrajaya because he did not want the escort to know the identity of the person to whom he was delivering the cash.

Rizal, a key witness in Rosmah’s corruption trial, said that two pieces of luggage containing the cash were delivered to Rosmah at her Seri Perdana residence in Putrajaya.

“I was protecting my boss (Rosmah).

“I didn’t want him (police escort) to know to whom I was sending the cash,” Rizal said when cross-examined by Rosmah’s counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader.

Rizal, the trial’s 21st prosecution witness, said his friend and businessman, Ahmed Farriq Zainul Abidin, who was with also in the car, had advised him to drop off the police officer – identified as ‘Evo’ – before they reached the official residence of the prime minister in Putrajaya.

He said Farriq, the trial’s ninth prosecution witness, whispered to him on the journey to Putrajaya, that it was “dangerous” to have a policeman in the car while they dropped off the cash.

“On the way to Seri Perdana, on the MEX Highway, Farriq whispered: “bahaya ada polis”.

“Noting this, we dropped Evo at the PMO, which is five minutes from Seri Perdana,” the former aide to Rosmah said.

Akberdin put it to Rizal that he had intentionally dropped the policeman at the PMO because he wanted to pocket the money for his own benefit.

However, Rizal denied the accusation. He said he had also arranged for Evo to accompany Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin upon the Saidi’s request for him to withdraw RM5 million from Maybank, Medan Tuanku, and have it delivered to a consultant, Lawrence Tee, at Pavilion.

He said the money was then to be passed to Rosmah.

Saidi wanted an escort because he was afraid of carrying a huge amount of cash unprotected, Rizal told the court.

He said he went to Pavilion with a friend to monitor the situation.

He also said he saw Saidi arriving and bringing two large pieces of luggage into Pavilion Tower with the help of his driver and the escort.

Rizal said he received a call from Saidi informing that Tee refused to accept the money, saying that he was uncomfortable handling such a huge amount.

He had then called Rosmah to explain what transpired and said that she instructed him to have the money delivered direct to Seri Perdana.

He said he then followed Rosmah’s instructions, loading the luggage into his car and heading to Seri Perdana with his driver, Farriq and Evo.

Rizal said it was during the 40-minute drive from Pavilion to Putrajaya that Farriq had suggested Evo be dropped off before they go to Seri Perdana.

The witness said after dropping Evo at the PMO, he had called for police outriders to escort his car to Seri Perdana.

When he arrived at the prime minister’s official residence, two butlers were already waiting and they took the bags into the house.

He said that Rosmah did not even open the bags but instructed the butlers to take them into her room.

During re-examination by lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, Rizal said no receipt nor thank you letter were issued to Jepak, Saidi or his business partner Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah by Umno or Barisan Nasional in appreciation of the so-called political donation.

Rizal said that, although he was appointed as a special function officer to former prime minister Najib Razak, he said that only 10% of his role was dedicated to the politician, while 90% was devoted to Rosmah.

The wife of the former prime minister, 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 before Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan will continue on October 5. – September 17, 2020.