ROSMAH Mansor has called an audio clip in which she allegedly told husband Najib Razak “Can I advise you something?” as “utter rubbish” during her trial in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

She denied that it was her and the former prime minister’s voices in the clip, saying she plays no part in advising the latter on appointments of persons to public offices.

Rosmah took the stand in her graft trial involving a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in Sarawak, for which she is charged with soliciting funds and receiving bribes as inducement to help a company secure the project.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had released the audio clip in January last year. At the time, it said the recording can shed light on how the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal unfolded.

During the trial in February last year, former education minister Mahdzir Khalid, who is a witness, confirmed to the court that the voices in the recording belonged to Najib and Rosmah.

Rosmah vehemently denied questions posed by lead deputy prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who cross-examined her on the audio clip, today.

Sri Ram: Can you confirm that the voices in the audio clip are yours and your husband’s?

Rosmah: No, I cannot confirm. There is no scientific evidence.

Sri Ram: Several witnesses have given evidence that the voices are yours and your husband’s.

Rosmah: You believe that?

Sri Ram: You do not question me. I am questioning you, and you answer me.

Rosmah: I am just thinking out loud.

Sri Ram: I am not going to argue with you. Just answer, agree or disagree.

Rosmah: Jangan jerit (Do not shout). I am not used to people shouting at me.

Sri Ram: Witnesses have identified the voices to be yours and your husband’s.

Rosmah: I disagree.

Sri Ram: You were in court and heard when the witnesses gave evidence, saying it was your voice and your husband’s. Agree?

Rosmah: Yes, I heard.

Sri Ram: It was never put to them (witnesses) that it was your voice or your husband’s. Agree with me, you could have instructed your counsels to put it to my witnesses that it was not your voice or your husband’s.

Rosmah: My Lordship, I disagree.

The lawyer then requested for the snippets of the recording to be played, so the witness can listen and identify the voices.

The court allowed it, and the audio was played for 10 seconds.

Sri Ram: Is that your voice?

Rosmah: I do not know.

Sri Ram: I put it to you, it is your voice.

Rosmah: I disagree.

Sri Ram then put to Rosmah that she had a say in her husband’s affairs as prime minister regarding appointments to public offices, which she denied. She also said the contents of the audio clip are untrue.

Sri Ram: I put it to you that you are distancing yourself from the contents of the tape because it confirms that you were giving advice to your husband on public appointments, in fact asking him to make public appointments.

Rosmah: I disagree.

Sri Ram: I put it to you; the content of the audio is true.

Rosmah: No, it is utterly rubbish.

Mahdzir was called in as a witness as he held the education portfolio when the solar hybrid project was approved for rural schools in Sarawak.

Today, judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled against an impeachment proceeding against Rosmah on grounds that there is no necessity to show that she has lied to the court, following discrepancies in her statements.

However, he added that the prosecution can still question her on the alleged contradicting answers.

“At the face of it, there seems to be contradictions between the initial statement made by the accused to MACC and answers in her witness statement.

“However, I note that the accused has attempted to explain the discrepancies in her witness statement, which can be found in paragraph 46.

“I find that there is no necessity to embark on an impeachment proceeding as the witness has attempted to explain her contradictions.”

Sri Ram started cross-examination by questioning Rosmah on her statement to the anti-graft body, where she had claimed to have not met Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin and his partner, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah.

Sri Ram said Rosmah’s court testimony contradicts the answers given in her witness statement, where she admitted to knowing both Saidi and Rayyan Radzwill.

Rosmah, 70, faces three corruption charges, including soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as inducement to help his firm secure a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

She is also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017. – December 23, 2021.