KUALA LUMPUR: A key prosecution witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's corruption trial today revealed how former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Pekan Umno secretary Datuk Aazmey Abu Talib had demanded up to RM60 million each as their cut from a solar hybrid project for schools in Sarawak.
The witness, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, also talked about how disgusted he felt about having to pay kickbacks amounting to millions of ringgit to politicians and others in order for Jepak Holdings Bhd - the company he was involved in - to secure the project.
The 41-year old claimed he was also threatened with death by his former business partner and Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, after he complained about having to pay all the bribes.
Rayyan, who is the 16th prosecution witness in the case, did not hold back when he was cross-examined by Rosmah's lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kadir.
He immediately implicated Aazmey when the Pekan Umno secretary's name was brought up by the defence lawyer.
Rayyan agreed with Akberdin that Aazmey had played a big role in helping Jepak Holdings secure the solar hybrid project.
He also admitted that Jepak Holdings had entered into an agreement with Aazmey to pay him about four or five per cent of the project value and this gratification amounted to about RM50 million to RM60 million.
He said Saidi eventually paid Aazmey a total of RM2 million in a number of payments which were carried out at various places like the Sri Pan Pacific Hotel coffee house during an Umno convention, Sunway Putra Mall and some other hotels.
"Saidi also consistently paid Aazmey between RM20,000 to RM30,000 per month from 2016.
"This was as gratitude for services rendered to help Jepak Holdings get the project," Rayyan said, adding he himself had banked in about RM70,000 into Azmey's personal bank account before Saidi repaid the money to him.
Akberdin: So, Saidi eventually ended up paying about RM2 million to Datuk Aazmey?
Rayyan: Yes, true
Akberdin: You helped draft the agreement for this four or five per cent payment from the total cost of the project which Aazmey had demanded?
Rayyan: Yes.
Akberdin: Do you know that Aazmey was also detained by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC)?
Rayyan: Yes, I saw him being remanded.
Akberdin: Do you know the MACC was planning to charge him with 20 offences?
Rayyan: I have no knowledge of that.
After completing with Aazmey's role in helping Jepak Holding secure the project, Akberdin moved in to question Rayyan about Mahdzir.
The senior lawyer asked Rayyan whether he knew that Mahdzir had demanded 20 per cent of the RM1.25 billion total project value for Jepak Holdings to supply hybrid solar energy to 369 schools in Sarawak.
Akberdin: He asked for 20 per cent of RM1.25 billion which comes up to RM250 million but eventually settled for RM60 million to be paid in installments of RM1 million per month for five years?
Rayyan: Yes, true.
Akberdin: He also entered into an agreement with Jepak Holdings to get this kickback but it was done through a proxy by the name of Md Fuad Yasin?
Rayyan: True.
Akberdin: Do you know that Md Fuad Yasin is now missing and that MACC is looking for him?
Rayyan: I read about it.
Akberdin: Did you also prepare the agreement which Fuad signed?
Rayyan: Yes.
Akberdin later applied for the prosecution to provide the agreements which Aazmey and Fuad had signed to get kickbacks from Jepak Holdings.
Rayyan said the MACC had also questioned him about the money which Mahdzir had demanded and he had told them all about it.
Akberdin: Do you know Saidi once gave RM40,000 to Mahdzir to sponsor Umno delegates from his division to attend the party convention in Kuala Lumpur?
Rayyan: Yes, he told me it was RM50,000 to 'belanja budak-budak kawasan dia' (treat delegates from his constituency)
Akberdin: This money was paid when Jepak Holdings project was progressing.
Rayyan: Yes.
Akberdin: Do you know MACC previously announced that Mahdzir was also going to be charged in connection with this case?
Rayyan: Yes I read about it.
It was previously reported that Mahdzir had denied asking for the gratification when he was called to the stand in February as another of the prosecution witness.
Mahdzir, who is Umno vice president, also refuted allegations that he was originally supposed to be charged with soliciting bribes in connection with the project when he was grilled by Rosmah's lawyers.
Meanwhile, Rayyan later related to the court how he felt disgusted when Jepak Holdings did not fulfil its end of the bargain to supply solar energy to the schools in Sarawak.
He said the company falsified terms of the contract to reduce the amount of solar energy it was supposed to provide.
Rayyan said he eventually decided to blow the lid on what was going on, including his unhappiness of bribes being paid to politicians and others.
"That is when I ended up getting a death threat from Saidi. I still have the message in my phone.
"He eventually apologised to me and even offered me RM20 to RM30 million to keep my mouth shut. However, I want the truth to be revealed," he said.
The trial before High Court Judge Mohamad Zaini Mazlan continues.
Rosmah is on trial for soliciting RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings to help the company secure the solar hybrid project.
She is also accused of receiving RM5 million and another RM1.5 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively to ensure the company got the contract.