Rosmah did not personally receive purported RM1.5m cash bribe sent to her home — witness

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor did not personally receive a RM1.5 million cash bribe that was purportedly delivered to her private home in 2017, affirmed a witness at her graft trial today.

The wife of the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also did not appear surprised by the cash, or acknowledged acceptance of the RM1.5 million cash offered to her at her Langgak Duta residence by former Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin.

Saidi agreed to these suggestions made in court during his cross-examination today by defence lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader. He is the 17th prosecution witness in the trial, which entered its 22nd day today at the High Court.

Rosmah is being tried for allegedly receiving RM5 million and RM1.5 million from Saidi in 2016 and 2017 respectively, as a contribution for assisting him in securing a RM1.25 billion project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power. The defence team has contended that the amount received by her was a political contribution for Najib’s political party Umno.

The first payment of RM5 million was made by Saidi to Rosmah via Datuk Rizal Mansor, Rosmah’s personal aide who took the money and delivered it to her Sri Perdana residence in Putrajaya.

The second payment of RM1.5 million was delivered personally in two black bags by Saidi and Jepak consultant Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah.

Akberdin: Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram earlier asked you if Rosmah had asked you to leave her residence when you offered the money (in 2017) which you said no. But did she ever say she accepted your offer?

Saidi: No, she just kept quiet.

The defence lawyer then suggested that Rosmah was “shocked” at Saidi’s offer of the money, but the witness replied that she did not behave unusually.

The lawyer also alluded to Rosmah not being prepared to receive guests as she had just finished exercising, but Saidi replied that he did not remember if that was the case.

Akberdin: Did you give the money to her hand?

Saidi: No, I did not, but I did tell her there was RM1.5 million there.

Akberdin: That’s not what I’m asking. Did you put the bag on the table in front of her and told her there was money inside? Did you open the bag and count the money?

Saidi: No, I did not.

The defence lawyer also asked Saidi whether he had personally seen the RM5 million delivered earlier to Rosmah in 2016.

Akberdin: Rizal asked you to bring the RM5 million to Pavilion and then took the bags and delivered [them] to Rosmah’s residence. But you never saw him do it or followed him?

Saidi: No, I didn’t. But I believe he delivered it to her.

Saidi, however, testified that upon delivering the RM5 million in two bags, he communicated to both Rizal and a lawyer named Lawrence that there had been RM2.5 million inside each bag intended for Rosmah.

Saidi also agreed to the defence lawyer’s suggestion that the offer for a political contribution to Najib’s political party Umno had to be done through Rosmah given Najib’s busy schedule as a prime minister at the time.

The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.

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