ROSMAH Mansor’s corruption case involving a solar-hybrid project in rural schools in Sarawak resumes today after a two-month break forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her lawyers recalled former education minister Mahdzir Khalid to the witness stand today for further cross-examination.

Mahdzir, the fifth prosecution witness, had testified in February, and was supposed to take the witness stand on October 5 but was unable to attend as he was in self-quarantine following a visit to Sabah for the elections.

When Mahdzir first testified in February, Rosmah’s lawyer Jagjit Singh 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 initially demanded a 20% cut from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin from the RM1.25 billion solar project but was rejected.

Mahdzir denied the accusations.

Another defence counsel, Akberdin Abdul Kadir, said the Umno vice-president and Tenaga Nasional chairman was recalled for further clarification.

The prosecution in the Rosmah trial is also seeking to admit as evidence an audio recording of phone calls between her and her husband, Najib Razak.

The prosecution said it wanted to use the audio recording, which was released by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in January, as proof of Rosmah’s “overbearing nature”.

The MACC released nine audio clips, which were handed over by a whistle-blower, involving former prime minister Najib and others, which the graft-buster said was evidence of “abuse of power and fabrication of false evidence” in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

During the prosecution’s opening statement in the trial, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram had described the 69-year-old accused as being “overbearing”, a trait she had used to “wield considerable influence”, and said she had placed herself in a position where she was able to influence decisions in the public sphere.

Rosmah’s lawyers previously requested the judge to object to the audio clips being admitted as evidence, arguing they amounted to “character assassination”.

Rosmah 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 RM6.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017. – December 11, 2020.