Rosmah gets 10 years' jail, RM970m fine for corruption
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon sentenced Rosmah Mansor to 10 years in jail and a record RM970 million fine, with an additional 30 years imprisonment if she fails to pay the fine.
However, the sentence can stay pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled...
The wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was convicted over three graft charges linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon sentenced Rosmah Mansor to 10 years in jail and a record RM970 million fine, with an additional 30 years imprisonment if she fails to pay the fine.
However, the sentence can stay pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that the accused failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case.
One charge accused Rosmah of soliciting RM187.5 million and two other counts accused her of receiving bribes of RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd’s former managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin, through her former special officer Rizal Mansor.
It was allegedly done as an inducement to help the company secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural Sarawak schools.
Earlier during proceedings today, Zaini ruled he would only read a brief portion of his decision as his actual judgment ran into over 100 pages.
The judge said his evaluation found the accused failed to rebut the presumption of guilt under the MACC Act.
“The accused’s defence is of bare denial and is devoid of credible evidence and unsubstantiated to create any reasonable doubt.
“The accused is guilty of all three charges,” Zaini said as Rosmah looked on from the dock.
Argument for lenient sentence
Later during submissions on sentencing, defence counsel Jagjit Singh pleaded for a lenient sentence such as one day in jail as she has contributed much to Malaysian society, especially its children.
The lawyer said this can be seen in Rosmah’s brainchild Permata, which was established to educate children such as those suffering from autism.
However, deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram sought a deterrent sentence of maximum jail time of 20 years or nearly maximum jail time for each offence, as well as a total fine of RM970 million.
The DPP said the breakdown is an RM937.5 million fine for the graft-solicitation charge and RM7.5 million and RM25 million for each of the two graft-receiving charges.
“The purpose (of the heavy sentence) in this conviction is to send a message to any would-be offender to stop in their tracks as corruption is the most virulent thing in society,” Gopal said.
However, the prosecutor said they have no objections to the defence team’s application for a stay of execution of the sentence pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Zaini then imposed the sentence which has a stay in effect pending Rosmah’s appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The trial judge also allowed her to remain out of prison on an existing RM2 million bail.
