ROSMAH Mansor’s lawyers were unable to recall former education minister Mahdzir Khalid for cross-examination today because he was in self-quarantine following a visit to Sabah.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon that he had received a communication from Mahdzir about the self-quarantine.

Sri Ram said the Tenaga Nasional chairman had been served with a quarantine notice by the Titiwangsa health office, which will only expire on October 12.

The prosecutor then asked justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan to allow the witness to be recalled on October 13.

“I am told that he (Mahdzir) is going for his third test on Wednesday and the result will be out on Thursday.

“His quarantine ends next week, on Monday.

“So, the prosecution seeks his lordship’s indulgence to take this case next week, on Tuesday at 2pm, have Mahdzir complete the cross and close our case,” Sri Ram told the court.

Earlier today, Rosmah’s lawyers had sought to recall the fifth prosecution witness for further clarification.

Mahdzir, who had testified in February, was supposed to take the witness stand this afternoon.

Rosmah’s solar trial for this month is only scheduled to take place over four days, starting today and finishing on Thursday.

Lead defence counsel Jagjit Singh told the court that he would confirm tomorrow if the defence would be available for the cross-examination on October 13.

When Mahdzir first testified in February, Jagjit had 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.

The court today also heard testimony from Noryusran Sairan, 46, chief assistant secretary of human resources at the Prime Minister’s Office.

He was the trial’s 22nd prosecution witness and was questioned for about 30 minutes.

The prosecution’s final witness, Noornabilah Mohd Aziman, 30, an assistant investigating officer at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), is due to face cross-examination from Rosmah’s lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kadir tomorrow.

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 an 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.