THE Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has objected to Rosmah Mansor’s new application to challenge the appointment of Gopal Sri Ram as senior deputy public prosecutor in the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project case and nullify entire trial proceedings since 2018. 

Rosmah’s counsel Jagjit Singh said they received the objection notice from AGC via email today at about 2.50pm and needed time to prepare a written submission on the matter.

“We need a week to prepare a written submission in response to the objection,” he said during today’s proceedings before High Court judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid via Zoom.

The court had fixed today to hear Rosmah’s application to obtain leave to initiate a judicial review. Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan acted for the AGC.

Meanwhile, Sri Ram, who was named the third respondent in Rosmah’s application, said he filed an affidavit last month to oppose the leave for judicial review as it is an abuse of the court process.

Judge Kamal fixed August 4 to hear the AGC and Sri Ram’s objections against Rosmah’s application.

The AGC opposed the application on the grounds that there is no arguable case and that it was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process.

The AGC contended that the trial of the applicant on the charges framed against her has been completed and the trial court has fixed September 1 to deliver judgment at the close of the whole case. 

“Therefore, what the applicant is seeking to do in the instant proceedings constitutes an interference with the due administration of criminal justice,” the AGC said.

Meanwhile Sri Ram, in his affidavit, contended the issues the applicant raised in the instant proceedings were all raised and adjudicated before the trial court.

Rosmah, 70, filed an application for judicial review on June 24 in the High Court (Appeal and Special Powers), naming the attorney-general/public prosecutor, government of Malaysia and Sri Ram as respondents.

Earlier, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak had filed a similar application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

However, the High Court rejected her application. Her subsequent appeals were also dismissed by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

In her latest application, Rosmah sought a declaration that the appointment of Sri Ram as senior deputy public prosecutor through three letters of appointment (fiat), dated July 8, 2020, May 11 and May 21, 2021, respectively, was unlawful.

In addition, Rosmah sought a declaration that the entire prosecution proceedings and full trial for the solar case. which took place from November 15, 2018 until the defence closed the case were invalid and void and she must be acquitted of all charges under section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.

Rosmah is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former aide Rizal Mansor, as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure a RM1.25 billion project to provide solar hybrid energy in 369 schools in rural Sarawak. – Bernama, July 6, 2022.