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Rosmah faces more corruption charges

Rosmah’s former special officer, Datuk Rizal Mansor, is expected to stand in the dock with her, where he is expected to answer several corruption charges.

The charges are in relation to the scandal surrounding the Integrated Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System project, as well as the maintanence and operation of generator sets that came with the allegedly contentious contract.

The New Straits Times has learnt that the prosecution will seek to prove that Rosmah had asked the contractor of the project — Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd — for more than RM100 million for helping the company secure the RM1.25 billion project meant to benefit 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

She is also to answer for allegedly receiving monies from the contractor. The NST was also made to understand that Rizal is expected to be accused of having made a handsome sum in the alleged “deals”.

The prosecution is expected to make him answer for allegedly receiving the gratification, in two separate charges.

Rizal is also expected to be accused of allegedly being the middleman for Rosmah.

The court is also expected to hear today that Rizal had allegedly received several million ringgit from Jepak Holdings.

Rosmah and Rizal are expected to be charged under Section 16 (a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which reads: “Any person or agent soliciting/receiving any form of gratification/bribe as an inducement for performing/not performing a task and corruptly solicits or receives or agrees to receive for himself or for any other person”.

It is expected to be read with clause (A) of the section, which criminalises “any person doing or forbearing to do anything in respect of any matter or transaction, actual or proposed or likely to take place”.

On Oct 4, Rosmah pleaded not guilty to 17 money laundering charges involving over RM7 million at the Sessions Court.

She claimed trial to all the charges which were framed under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Yesterday, Rosmah’s lawyer, Datuk K. Kumaraendran,
confirmed that his client would be charged in court today.

The RM1.25 billion solar project was reported to have been awarded during the Barisan Nasional administration without adhering to the Education Ministry’s standard operating procedure.

It was also reported that this allegedly happened under then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s orders.

In a statement issued yesterday, MACC said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-GC) had consented to the prosecution of Rosmah and Rizal.

The graft-buster said both would be charged jointly about 3pm today for the offences allegedly committed between March and December 2016.

Rosmah was called to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at noon (yesterday). She was there for about four hours for the “final process of the investigation and prosecution”.

In the same statement, MACC said the A-G had agreed to prosecute former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today.

His case is related to the sale of 273.27ha of Kuala Lumpur City Hall land worth RM5.63 billion.

“He was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 3.25pm today (yesterday). He is expected to be charged jointly with a businessman, Datuk Tan Eng Boon, at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.”

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