KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM1.5 million, in the implementation of the project to supply and install solar energy at 369 rural schools in Sarawak two years ago.
Rosmah, 66, made the plea after the charges were read out to her before judge Azman Ahmad.
On the first count, she was charged with dishonestly soliciting for herself, made through Rizal Mansor, 44, gratification, to the amount of RM187,500,000, which is 15 per cent of the value of the contract for the project, from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
It was as an inducement to help the company (Jepak Holdings) to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.
She was charged with committing the offence at Lygon Cafe', G-24, Ground Floor, Sunway Putra Mall, 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit, here between March and April 2016.--Reuters