Rosmah’s lawyer criticises ‘unprecedented’ RM970mil fine
Rosmah Mansor’s lawyer Jagjit Singh said a notice of appeal has been given to the court.
PETALING JAYA: Rosmah Mansor’s lawyer Jagjit Singh has criticised the fine imposed on his client after she was found guilty of corruption in connection with the RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools’ solar energy project.
“The (RM970 million) fine imposed is unprecedented, the largest in Malaysian legal history,” Jagjit said in a press conference outside the court.
He added that a notice of appeal has been given to the court, pointing out that the entire appeal process would take at least six months.
Rosmah, 70, was sentenced to 10 years in jail and a RM970 million fine by the Kuala Lumpur High Court after being found guilty of all three counts of corruption in connection with the project.
The RM970 million fine is the minimum amount provided for under Section 24(1)(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
PETALING JAYA: Rosmah Mansor’s lawyer Jagjit Singh has criticised the fine imposed on his client after she was found guilty of corruption in connection with the RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools’ solar energy project.
“The (RM970 million) fine imposed is unprecedented, the largest in Malaysian legal history,” Jagjit said in a press conference outside the court.
He added that a notice of appeal has been given to the court, pointing out that the entire appeal process would take at least six months.
Rosmah, 70, was sentenced to 10 years in jail and a RM970 million fine by the Kuala Lumpur High Court after being found guilty of all three counts of corruption in connection with the project.
The RM970 million fine is the minimum amount provided for under Section 24(1)(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
Ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram speaking at a press conference with the rest of the prosecution team.
The court also granted Rosmah’s request to suspend the jail sentence and fine pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine no less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Defence lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader claimed his client was a victim of selective prosecution, saying that “whatever happened to her husband (Najib Razak) also happened to her”.
Jagjit also claimed there was irony in his client’s case, describing it as a “classic example of name dropping being used for personal gain”.
“This is a classic example where (her former aide) Rizal Mansor had used her name, abused his position and enriched himself, and yet he is a free man walking out there,” he said.
Meanwhile, ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told reporters that the prosecution does not propose to file an appeal to enhance Rosmah’s sentence.
He said neither he nor his team of deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) and investigating officers (IOs) had any personal interest in Rosmah’s case.
“We are tasked to do our job and we did it,” Sri Ram added.
To a question on claims by the defence that there was “selective prosecution” in bringing charges against Rosmah but dropping those against Rizal, Sri Ram said that this was prosecutorial discretion.
“Sometimes it is necessary for the public prosecutor to weigh a balance on who has committed a crime and whose evidence is necessary to bring a charge forward,” he said.
Previously, Rosmah was jointly charged with Rizal for corruption.
However, charges against Rizal were withdrawn before the trial commenced in February 2020.
Rizal subsequently testified as a prosecution witness.
The court also granted Rosmah’s request to suspend the jail sentence and fine pending her appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine no less than five times the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Defence lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader claimed his client was a victim of selective prosecution, saying that “whatever happened to her husband (Najib Razak) also happened to her”.
Jagjit also claimed there was irony in his client’s case, describing it as a “classic example of name dropping being used for personal gain”.
“This is a classic example where (her former aide) Rizal Mansor had used her name, abused his position and enriched himself, and yet he is a free man walking out there,” he said.
Meanwhile, ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told reporters that the prosecution does not propose to file an appeal to enhance Rosmah’s sentence.
He said neither he nor his team of deputy public prosecutors (DPPs) and investigating officers (IOs) had any personal interest in Rosmah’s case.
“We are tasked to do our job and we did it,” Sri Ram added.
To a question on claims by the defence that there was “selective prosecution” in bringing charges against Rosmah but dropping those against Rizal, Sri Ram said that this was prosecutorial discretion.
“Sometimes it is necessary for the public prosecutor to weigh a balance on who has committed a crime and whose evidence is necessary to bring a charge forward,” he said.
Previously, Rosmah was jointly charged with Rizal for corruption.
However, charges against Rizal were withdrawn before the trial commenced in February 2020.
Rizal subsequently testified as a prosecution witness.
Yaya..
ReplyDeleteExcessive even for a very biased person like me....wakakaka
At this rate, die-hard Rosmah-Jib supporters may decide to stay home and play congkak , instead of voting for BN/PN /MN in GE 15
ReplyDeleteIf Rosmah were to korek here, korek there, I am sure she can come up with the MR970 mil fine.
ReplyDeleteSomehow lost in all this screams about injustice is that the Sarawak Schools Solar Power Project RM 1.25 Billion evaporated - lesap, and all the schools still don't have their solar power installations.
ReplyDeleteClearly the project was awarded to a totally incapable company - Jepak Holdings, and investigations showed the corruption involved in the award decision.
So...don't cry for Rosmah....