Rosmah withdraws appeal, High Court to hear solar corruption case
Thursday, 20 Jun 20191:53 PM MYT
PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The corruption trial of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, over the Sarawak solar project cases will be heard in the High Court.
This follows Rosmah's decision to withdraw her appeal on Thursday (June 20) in the Court of Appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision in March 15 this year to allowing the prosecution to transfer her case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
Rosmah's counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh informed a three-member bench led by Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli that the defence was withdrawing its appeal in light of a High Court decision on May 30.
On that date, High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed a prosecution application to jointly try Rosmah and Rizal Mansor, a former special officer to Najib, at the High Court pertaining to their corruption charges over the solar project and set 32 days for trial beginning Feb 3 next year.
DPP Mohd Farizul Hassan Bakri did not object to the withdrawal of the appeal.
Justice Abdul Rahman, who sat with Justices Kamardin Hashim and Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, then struck off the appeal.
Rosmah, 67, was not present in court.
She pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court on Nov 15 last year to two counts of soliciting RM187.5mil and receiving RM1.5mil for projects to provide solar energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Rizal, 46, claimed trial on the same day to four counts of soliciting and accepting bribes for himself and Rosmah, amounting to RM5.5mil, over the same project.
On Oct 4 last year, Rosmah also pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of money laundering amounting to RM7,097,750 and five charges of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board. – Bernama
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/06/20/rosmah-withdraws-appeal-high-court-to-hear-solar-corruption-case/#GP1cki5oCDh94cEK.99
