FORMER education minister Mahdzir Khalid will take the stand again later today in the Rosmah Mansor corruption trial.

This is after her lawyers asked for the fifth prosecution witness to be recalled for another round of cross-examination.

Defence counsel Akberdin Abdul Kadir told reporters the witness was recalled for further clarification.

“We told the court during (Mahzir’s) cross-examination that we might call him for another round of questioning,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Mahdzir, who is Tenaga Nasional chairman, was to have taken the stand at 11am but the defence counsel had asked for more time to prepare for the hearing.

Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed its application to start at 2.30pm.

Earlier in the court today, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram insisted Mahdzir gave his testimony today despite reports that he was in self-isolation following his return from Sabah.

“I don’t care if he has to come here carrying an oxygen tank. I want him to take the stand today,” he said.

When Mahdzir first testified in February, defence lawyer Jagjit Singh yhad accused the Umno lawmaker of being the “most corrupt” education minister ever for agreeing to approve a solar project in Sarawak in exchange for RM60 million in kickbacks.

Jagjit told the court then that Mahdzir had initially demanded a 20% cut from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin of the RM1.25 billion solar project, but he was rejected by Saidi.

Mahdzir denied the accusations.

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 the company secure a RM1.25 billion solar project for 369 rural schools. 

She is also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017. – October 5, 2020.