Crime & Courts

Rosmah's trial taken off again as her MySejahtera status still orange

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's corruption hearing was taken off again today as her MySejahtera status remains unchanged due to close contact with a Covid 19 positive person.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said under the circumstances the court had no choice but to vacate the hearing.

However, he also made it clear to the defence that continued adjournments of the trial cannot go on.

He pointed out that the hearing had been vacated for the third time in two weeks.

"We cannot go on like this.

"The trial has to end at some point," he said, before agreeing with lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram on the possibility of conducting virtual hearings if Rosmah's status remains unchanged at the next trial dates scheduled for Dec 23 and 24.

However, Rosmah's lead counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh said he preferred to have open court proceedings instead of virtual ones.

Zaini then proposed for another witness to be called but Sri Ram said this could pose a problem as Rosmah's absence when a witness is testifying could lead to issues if the matter is argued at the Court of Appeal stage.

The High Court judge then said parties would be informed if a virtual hearing needs to be conducted before the next hearing dates.

"If her status reverts to blue then its back to court for everyone," he said.

It was reported that Rosmah's MySejahtera status had turned to orange after she came into close contact with a Covid 19 positive person last week.

Rosmah, who celebrated her 70th birthday on Friday, is on trial for soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd former managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin, through her former special officer Datuk Rizal Mansor.

She was accused of committing the offences between Jan 2016 and Sept 2017.

Rosmah purportedly received the money in exchange for helping the company obtain a RM1.25 billion project to provide solar energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

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