KUALA LUMPUR — The prosecution on Friday (Dec 11) wrapped up its case against Rosmah Mansor in a trial in which she is accused of receiving bribes in exchange for helping a company secure an RM1.25 billion (S$412 million) project.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who was assisted by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Abdul Gharib, informed High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that the prosecution wants to close its case after the defence completed the cross-examination of a witness on Friday morning.

The witness, former Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid, was recalled to be cross-examined by Rosmah's lawyers and finished testifying just before noon.

Mr Mahdzir, who has constantly frustrated Rosmah's lawyers with his answers either denying knowledge of events or stating that he had forgotten what transpired, again had the defence on tenterhooks with his replies.

After repeatedly giving the same answers on Friday, Rosmah's visibly exasperated counsel Jagjit Singh shot out that the lapse in Mr Mahdzir's memory must have been caused by the Covid-19 virus.

Mr Mahdzir, who remained unfazed by Mr Jagjit's statement, replied with an equally sarcastic tone by saying "Yes, it must be."

"You are lying in this court. You are practising selective memory... even my five-year-old grandson will be able to tell," said Mr Jagjit. 

Mr Madzir replied: "You don't have to bring your grandson into all this. This is not Parliament where you can say anything you want.

"I wish I was in Parliament," Mr Jagjit added. 

Mr Mahdzir was further put under the hammer by Rosmah's other counsel, Mr Akberdin Abdul Kader, who accused the Umno politician of lacking any credibility and integrity to be testifying as a witness in the trial.

However, Mr Mahdzir – who is now Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) chairman, responded by saying that he disagreed with such an opinion.

Meanwhile, justice Mohamed Zaini on Friday ruled that he would not allow an audio recording of a conversation between Rosmah and her husband, former Prime Minister Najib Razak, to be tendered as an exhibit in the trial.

He later fixed Dec 28 for the defence to file their written submissions, Jan 4 for the prosecution to respond and Jan 29 for the defence to reply.

He also fixed Feb 10 for final clarification of the submissions before another date is fixed for a decision on whether Rosmah should be called to enter her defence.

Rosmah is on trial for soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd former managing director Saidi Abang Samsuddin.

The bribes were allegedly received as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 schools in the interior of Sarawak.

Rosmah, 69, was accused of committing the offences between Jan 2016 and Sept 2017.

She faces a maximum 20 years' jail and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification if convicted. NEW STRAITS TIMES