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The usually composed Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor broke into tears as she grouched about the “selective prosecution” against her at the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday, 6 October
During the corruption trial linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project, former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s wife teared up as she read out her defence statement before High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, reported New Straits Times.
Tears streamed down her cheeks while she was giving her statement, and she apologised to the judge and requested for the court to give her a moment to collect herself.
“Let me control myself first, Yang Arif,” she said before reaching for some tissues to wipe her tears.
According to Malaysiakini, the former First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM) is said to have sobbed loudly in the courtroom.
Image via Asyraf Hamzah/New Straits Times
Rosmah contended that the prosecution against her is malicious and selective as five other individuals involved in the case did not face any charges
Testifying under oath, she said these individuals had instead been called to give evidence against her when she held no position in government and had no authority to approve projects, reported Free Malaysia Today.
The five individuals she mentioned are witnesses in the case, namely former education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, former Ministry of Education secretaries-general Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad and Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad, her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor, and Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
Mahdzir is the current Rural Development Minister. Madinah was the auditor-general for a two-year period beginning February 2017.
None of the five witnesses are indicted in the corruption case.
“This is a heinous and malicious act against me and my family,” Rosmah said after contending that action should have been taken against witnesses instead of allowing them to “point fingers” at her, reported Malaysiakini.
“This is also a form of malicious and selective prosecution against me.”
Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex.
Image via Sinar Harian
Additionally, the court also heard Rosmah talk about her relationship with Najib, specifically her overbearing nature that is in relation to the leaked ‘Can I advise you something’ audio recording
Her lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader asked her to elaborate on her so-called ability to influence decisions in the public sector as alleged by the prosecution, reported New Straits Times.
The visibly agitated former FLOM then responded that the prosecution had deliberately tried to implicate her by bringing up irrelevant statements and evidence that had nothing to do with her case.
Touching on the infamous leaked audio clip which heard her advising Najib to “take charge” when he was the prime minister, Rosmah said she and her husband are an ordinary couple who also have their ups and downs.
“The conversation between me and my husband is supposed to be a private matter. I gave him my opinion and my husband listened,” she told the court.
“Sometimes it is the other way round where my husband talks and I listen. Whether or not he accepts my views or me, his, (sic) is another matter.”
“That is what all couples go through,” she continued, adding that, “I was just stressing my views and my feelings… That is all.”
She said she did not intend to instruct Najib to do as her advice.
“If that is what they mean by my overbearing nature and ability to influence decisions in the public sector then my marriage would not have lasted for 34 years,” she said, directing her testimony at lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram.
She also denied the hearsay that she influenced Najib to award the billion-ringgit project to the company she proposed.
On 5 October, she told the court she is not young anymore as she is turning 70 in December, adding that she is now a housewife.
Rosmah at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in February 2020.
Image via Hairul Annuar Rahim/New Straits Times
Rosmah was ordered to enter defence on 18 February this year after the Kuala Lumpur High Court said that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against her, reported Malaysiakini.
She is currently facing three charges under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 for soliciting bribes on three occasions — RM187 million, RM1.5 million, and RM5 million — from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.