Until today, Jepak has not received receipt for 'political donation' to Umno

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 5): The 17th prosecution witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s (pictured) solar graft trial testified that until today, Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd has not received a receipt acknowledging the “political contribution” of RM6.5 million given to her for her husband’s political party, Umno.

The witness is Saidi Abang Samsudin, who is managing director of the company that was awarded a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in Sarawak from the Ministry of Education in 2016.

Saidi is a key witness in the trial, which enters its 20th day. Rosmah is being charged for allegedly receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

These payments were part of a contribution of RM187.5 million promised by Saidi to Rosmah, representing 15% of the total value of the project of RM1.25 billion.

He made the payments to Rosmah, as wife of then-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, for her assistance in getting her husband’s approval for the project.

Saidi told the court that he had initially settled for making a 10% contribution, but Rosmah, through her aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, insisted on increasing the percentage to 15%.

Saidi made the payment in two tranches, the first being RM5 million which was passed to Rizal in December 2016 to the Prime Minister's Official residence in Putrajaya, followed by RM1.5 million which Saidi, along with consultant Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, had personally delivered to Rosmah’s home in September 2017.

As part of this deal, Saidi said lawyer Lawrence Tee, who worked for property tycoon Tan Sri Desmond Lim, suggested that he leaglise the political contribution in writing.

However, it is uncertain if the agreement exists today.

Saidi also revealed during his examination-in-chief by DPP Idham Abdul Ghani that he had made a monetary offer to Rizal for his help in connecting the company to Rosmah, of which the latter had set the amount to RM20 million.

Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram then took over the examination-in-chief, asking him whether there was any acknowledgement given by Umno, a political party part of the Barisan Nasional coalition that Najib was heading.

Sri Ram: You said you gave the money as a political donation. Until today have you received any receipt from Barisan Nasional or UMNO acknowledging the money received?

Witness: No, I did not.

Sri Ram also asked the witness whether Rosmah had ever protested the offer and delivery of money, to which he said she did not.

Rosmah is charged with soliciting RM187.5 million bribe for the solar hybrid project and two other counts of receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million graft from Saidi.

The trial continues tomorrow with the cross-examination of the witness. 

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