ROSMAH Mansor today denied that she has an “overbearing nature” and possesses the “ability to influence decisions in the public sector” as alleged by the prosecution in her RM1.25 billion solar hybrid corruption trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Referring to the characterisation made by lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram in his opening statement based on an “unverified” audio recording by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) dubbed, “Can I advise you something”, Rosmah said the prosecution was trying to portray her as having a negative personality by alleging that she controls her husband, former prime minister Najib Razak.

Rosmah said her husband and her usually advise each other and have a normal marital relationship, just like other couples.

“I would like to state here that me and my husband, Najib, are normal human beings, just like any other couple out there.

“My conversation with my husband was a private conversation, in which I gave my opinion, and my husband in turn listened, and vice versa. My husband would give his views, and, in turn, I become a listener.

“Whether my husband accepts my views, or whether I accept my husband’s views, is a secondary question. This is the custom of the household and part and parcel of family life.

“I never at all wanted my husband to follow my views. I just simply emphasised my views and feelings. That’s all.

“If this is said to be ‘overbearing nature’ and (that I have the) ‘ability to influence decisions in the public sector’, it is certain that my marriage would not have lasted for 34 years now,” she told the court today.

Earlier during the trial, the prosecution said it wanted to use the audio recording, which was released by MACC in January 2020, as proof of Rosmah’s “overbearing nature”.

After initially denying it, High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan agreed to accept the prosecution’s application to have the audio clip and transcripts admitted as evidence.

Testifying under oath, Rosmah then said that the audio, however, did not touch or make any mention of the solar hybrid project.

“This allegation is untrue, unverified, malicious and it cannot be taken into consideration by this court. Situations like this did not happen at all,” she said.

Rosmah also testified that she had not interfered nor leveraged upon her husband nor his position in any government administration or procurement matters.

“The fact of the matter is that the prosecution knew that all the allegations against me were baseless, so they used the ugly grounds as primary pretext.

“I state that the prosecution has done its best to try to link me to the charges here in any way, even with irrelevant evidence, especially in this case,” she said.

Throughout her defence statement, Rosmah said that this case was malicious and a form of selective prosecution against her.

Rosmah, 69, is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes and two charges of receiving RM6.5 million graft from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide Rizal Mansor as a gratification to assist Jepak Holdings in securing the Integrated Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic System Project as well as Genset/Diesel Maintenance and Operation for 369 rural schools in Sarawak worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiations from the Education Ministry.

Rosmah is expected to be cross-examined by Sri Ram tomorrow. – October 6, 2021.