News by Hafiz Yatim

Of the 263 handbags, more than 100 are said to be of the exclusive Hermes brand. Hermes bags can cost from US$12,000 to US$200,000. The cash is said to be worth close to RM3 million, with the bulk of it denominated in pound sterling.

Ahmad allegedly said the money was not from Najib, he had not seen a cheque for that amount, and he neither knew about the cheque nor cashed it.

The source from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) confirmed that the IRB has discharged Naban, whose full name is Palpanaban Devarajoo, as its lawyer in the case.

The ministry's deputy secretary-general (management) Datuk Othman Semail said he had advised the former premier against the project as he had doubts over the ability of Jepak — a transport and car rental firm — to undertake the RM1.25 billion project.

Madinah said this in reply to a question during re-examination by senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in Rosmah’s graft trial at the High Court.

Its lawyer Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin said the notice only allows third parties to challenge the forfeiture, not OBYU.

Counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader told Madinah that she appeared to believe that the solar hybrid gensets proposed by Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd were not suitable as some of the schools are located in areas covered by deep forests where sunlight may be blocked.

However, she did not express her reservations despite her ministry being instructed by the former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, to implement the project speedily.

"This project was given through direct negotiations and needed to be processed by the Government Procurement Division of the Finance Ministry."

DPP Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram: How did you act on the minutes?

Former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid: I must do the task immediately.