ROSMAH Mansor broke down in tears during her RM1.25 billion solar hybrid corruption trial today, saying the case is malicious and selective prosecution against her.

Rosmah, wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, became emotional when she was nearing the end of her witness statement.

She told the court that at least five others should have been prosecuted for their offences, but she was instead in the dock.

The five people Rosmah referred to are former education minister Mahdzir Khalid, former education minister secretary-general Dr Madinah Mohamad and her successor Alias Ahmad, Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin and her former aide, Rizal Mansor.

Testifying under oath, Rosmah claimed that they were instead made prosecution witnesses in the trial so that they could point their fingers at her and make her the scapegoat.

“Although they should be prosecuted for the offences committed, the prosecution prefers to call them as witnesses so that together, they can point their fingers at me, an individual who has no position in the government and has no authority to approve any government projects.

“Whatsoever, in order to cover up their respective shame, which has now been exposed to the public, they decided to act cruelly against me and my family.

“This is a malicious and selective prosecution against me,” an emotional Rosmah told the High Court.

She, however, apologised to trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan for her emotional outburst before regaining her composure.

She then continued reading the final few paragraphs of her witness statement.

Rosmah said the awarding of the project was solely under the purview of the Education Ministry, specifically the responsibility of Mahdzir, Madinah and Alias and that any wrongdoing should be directed at the aforementioned parties. 

She said her situation was even more unfortunate because several people connected to the case were not called to testify. 

She said this includes Pekan Umno secretary Ahmad Aazmey Abu Talib and the butlers in Langgak Duta, whom 16th prosecution witness Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah testified as seen carrying the two bags, which he believed to have contained cash.  

“Even more unfortunate, Aazmey, who got 11 minutes of the prime minister and accepted bribes from Rayyan and Saidi, but Aazmey was not charged and was not called by the prosecution as an important witness nor was he offered to the defence,” she said.   

“What I can say here is, this is highly prejudicial and malicious prosecution to me even though there is no relevant evidence against me at all.” 

Earlier in the trial when Saidi took the stand, he said Aazmey was offered a RM50 million “consultancy fee” for helping Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd secure a RM1.25 billion solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Aazmey was said to have procured for him 11 meeting minutes and cover letters from Najib.

Two notable minutes contained Najib’s recommendations for Jepak to be awarded the project through direct negotiation and for the Education Ministry to issue the company with the letter of award.

Earlier in the day, Rosmah also denied soliciting and receiving any monies related to the solar hybrid project from Saidi or his partner Rayyan. 

She said she had not personally asked or handled any cash, totalling RM6.5 million, which she is alleged to have received on two occasions – RM1.5 million in Langgak Duta and RM5 million in Seri Perdana, Putrajaya.

She reiterated that it was Rizal, who solicited and received monies from Jepak Holding.

“He used me (name dropping) for his personal benefit,” she said. – October 6, 2021.