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Former Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin told the High Court the money was the second payment to Rosmah, who had assisted in securing the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project in Sarawak.
A payment of RM5 million was earlier delivered to the prime minister’s residence in Putrajaya on Dec 20, 2016.
Rosmah is the wife of Najib Razak, then prime minister until he was ousted from power in May 2018.
Rosmah’s lawyer, Azrul Zulkifli Stork, however, said his client did not personally receive the RM1.5 million allegedly contained in two black bags that were placed at the edge of a settee inside the living room of her private residence.
At a previous hearing, Saidi said he had withdrawn the money from a bank at Medan Tuanku here on Sept 7, 2017 and placed the money in the two bags.
He also testified that his driver had placed the two bags of money near the settee and left the living room.
Saidi said his partner, Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, and Rosmah’s aide, Rizal Mansor, were there but Rizal left when she came to meet them.
The 17th prosecution witness said he told Rosmah he had brought money as promised after securing the contract but more payments would be paid as promised later.
He said Rosmah did not say anything but just responded “hmmm”, adding that the meeting only lasted for five minutes.
Azrul: Did you open the bags to show her the money?
Saidi: No.
Azrul: Do you know what happened to the bags after both of you left the place?
Saidi: No.
The witness said the money was for Rosmah though he did not personally deliver the bags to her.
Azrul then suggested to Saidi that the RM1.5 million was instead used for personal and business expenses but the witness disagreed.
“I am a businessman and also keep cash at home,” he replied.
Saidi said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators had queried him about the expenses but he could not remember what it was now.
At this juncture, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib stood up and said the defence were on a fishing expedition to know what the witness had told the MACC during Saidi’s detention.
A heated exchange then transpired between Akram and the defence lawyers who included Jagjit Singh.
Trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan then remarked that “you all have been watching too much of Parliament” in a veiled reference to opposition and government backbenchers being involved in shouting matches.
Azrul’s co-counsel, Akberdin Abdul Kader, then told Zaini the defence would like to impeach the credibility of Saidi as a witness as it appeared his evidence in court and the statement given to the MACC were different.
Zaini then suggested that the proceedings could begin now or the defence could submit at the close of the prosecution’s case, on the matter of Saidi not being a credible witness.
After a break, Jagjit said they needed more time to deliberate the matter and that included taking instructions from Rosmah.
The trial has been adjourned to Sept 7.
Rosmah, 69, was charged with three counts of corruption for allegedly soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi as an inducement to help the company secure the project through direct negotiation with the education ministry.
She was also accused of receiving bribes amounting to RM6.5 million from Saidi between 2016 and 2017.
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