I was sleeping with PM, so why use a civil servant for bribes, asks Rosmah
Rosmah Mansor said Najib Razak had reminded her many times not to deal with contractors who wanted to secure government projects. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor told the High Court here that she had no reason to use a civil servant to allegedly collect bribes from development projects when her husband Najib Razak was heading the government then.
“Why should I when I was sleeping with the prime minister,” she said when re-examined by her lawyer, Akberdin Abdul Kader.
Rosmah said this when her lawyer asked her to clarify the prosecution’s contention that she used her ex-aide, Rizal Mansor, to negotiate deals with Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to solicit and receive bribes linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project for rural schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah, 70, is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi, through Rizal, as an inducement to help the company secure the project through direct negotiation with the education ministry.
She is also accused of two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM1.5 million in 2016 and another RM5 million in 2017 from Saidi.
Rosmah, who completed giving her testimony today, denied she used Rizal to do her bidding as he was merely a civil servant.
She also said that Najib, who was prime minister from April 2009 to May 2018, had always cautioned her not to deal with contractors who wanted to secure government projects.
“He asked me to concentrate only on welfare activities,” she said, adding Najib was gentle when reminding her of this role.
Rosmah said she never took part in the decision-making process on behalf of any party wanting to win government development projects.
“Najib had also reminded me that I should not interfere as I am his wife.
“Anyway, I have no capacity and authority. I did not want to earn the wrath of Najib by meddling in government matters,” she said when Akberdin asked her to clarify the prosecution’s stand that she used her influence in the solar project.
Rosmah said Najib, who was also finance minister, adhered to Treasury and ministry rules when the government awarded projects.
She also said Rizal, former education minister Mahdzir Khalid, former education ministry secretaries-general Madinah Mohamad and Alias Ahmad should have been prosecuted instead of her.
“Instead, I became the scapegoat when they pointed the finger at me. Finally, I was charged with corruption and money laundering,” she said.
Rosmah, who mostly trained her guns at Rizal, said her former aide was initially jointly charged with her but the prosecution later gave him an acquittal.
“They dropped the charges and gave him a discharge amounting to an acquittal. He later became the crown witness and gave evidence against me,” she said.
Rosmah said Rizal is a “liar through and through” and conspired with the prosecution to save his own skin.
She said he collected RM500,000 from Saidi and also went with his family members to perform the umrah.
“I was also wondering where he got the money to go for holidays,” she added.
She said Alias abused his power by altering clauses in the award of the contract to Jepak, which put the government at a disadvantage.
Rosmah said Mahdzir brought in outsiders who had no relationship with the project to participate in meetings at his ministry.
“According to media reports, he was to be charged but negotiated with the ad-hoc prosecutor (Gopal Sri Ram) to save his own neck,” she said.
Rosmah said Madinah issued a letter of acceptance for the project a day before she retired because she also had an interest in it.
Hearing before Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan was adjourned to Jan 10.
KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor told the High Court here that she had no reason to use a civil servant to allegedly collect bribes from development projects when her husband Najib Razak was heading the government then.
“Why should I when I was sleeping with the prime minister,” she said when re-examined by her lawyer, Akberdin Abdul Kader.
Rosmah said this when her lawyer asked her to clarify the prosecution’s contention that she used her ex-aide, Rizal Mansor, to negotiate deals with Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to solicit and receive bribes linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project for rural schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah, 70, is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi, through Rizal, as an inducement to help the company secure the project through direct negotiation with the education ministry.
She is also accused of two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM1.5 million in 2016 and another RM5 million in 2017 from Saidi.
Rosmah, who completed giving her testimony today, denied she used Rizal to do her bidding as he was merely a civil servant.
She also said that Najib, who was prime minister from April 2009 to May 2018, had always cautioned her not to deal with contractors who wanted to secure government projects.
“He asked me to concentrate only on welfare activities,” she said, adding Najib was gentle when reminding her of this role.
Rosmah said she never took part in the decision-making process on behalf of any party wanting to win government development projects.
“Najib had also reminded me that I should not interfere as I am his wife.
“Anyway, I have no capacity and authority. I did not want to earn the wrath of Najib by meddling in government matters,” she said when Akberdin asked her to clarify the prosecution’s stand that she used her influence in the solar project.
Rosmah said Najib, who was also finance minister, adhered to Treasury and ministry rules when the government awarded projects.
She also said Rizal, former education minister Mahdzir Khalid, former education ministry secretaries-general Madinah Mohamad and Alias Ahmad should have been prosecuted instead of her.
“Instead, I became the scapegoat when they pointed the finger at me. Finally, I was charged with corruption and money laundering,” she said.
Rosmah, who mostly trained her guns at Rizal, said her former aide was initially jointly charged with her but the prosecution later gave him an acquittal.
“They dropped the charges and gave him a discharge amounting to an acquittal. He later became the crown witness and gave evidence against me,” she said.
Rosmah said Rizal is a “liar through and through” and conspired with the prosecution to save his own skin.
She said he collected RM500,000 from Saidi and also went with his family members to perform the umrah.
“I was also wondering where he got the money to go for holidays,” she added.
She said Alias abused his power by altering clauses in the award of the contract to Jepak, which put the government at a disadvantage.
Rosmah said Mahdzir brought in outsiders who had no relationship with the project to participate in meetings at his ministry.
“According to media reports, he was to be charged but negotiated with the ad-hoc prosecutor (Gopal Sri Ram) to save his own neck,” she said.
Rosmah said Madinah issued a letter of acceptance for the project a day before she retired because she also had an interest in it.
Hearing before Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan was adjourned to Jan 10.
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