KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of soliciting and accepting bribes totalling RM1.5 million in connection with the supply and installation of solar energy at 369 rural schools in Sarawak two years ago, was allowed bail of RM1 million in one surety.
Judge Azman Ahmad allowed Rosmah, 66, to pay RM500,000 of the bail amount today and the balance to be settled within seven days.
He set Dec 10 for mention.
Earlier, the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar proposed bail of RM1 million for Rosmah and for the woman to surrender her passport to the court.
Lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, representing Rosmah, did not object to the amount but requested for the payment to be made in instalment within 10 days.
He also informed that court that his client’s passport had been surrendered to another Sessions Court in another case.
However, Umar Saifuddin objected to the bail payment to be made instalment.
Meanwhile, Najib was also present in court and was seen holding Rosmah’s hands as they entered the courtroom.
Also seen in the court were Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki , Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa, former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Kepala Batas Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and former Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
Meanwhile, in another Sessions Court, Najib’s former special officer, Datuk Rizal Mansor, 44, who pleaded not guilty to four counts of soliciting and accepting bribes, involving RM5.5 million, for himself and Rosmah over the same project, was allowed bail of RM1 million in two sureties.
Judge Rozina Ayob, who presided the case, allowed Rizal’s lawyer, Ridha Abdah Subri’s application for the bail amount to be paid in instalment with RM500,000 to be paid today and the balance before Nov 22.
Rizal was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court.
Earlier, the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar said both parties agreed to the bail amount, but the prosecution objected to it being paid in instalments.
Ridha Abdah, in requesting for his client to be allowed to pay the bail in instalments, said her client had given full cooperation to MACC during the investigation.
“My client also came to court today voluntarily and had never breached his bail condition when he was in remand. Today, the bailors for my client are in court. They are his wife and a younger sister,“ she said.
Kamal Baharin also told the court that the case facing Rizal was related to Rosmah’s case.
“Therefore, I request for time for the prosecution to apply for both the cases to be heard jointly,“ he added.
Rozina ordered the prosecution to file an official application and set Nov 29 for mention. — Bernama
