Rosmah leaves the High Court after the hearing of her corruption trial. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: A former driver to Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director told the High Court here yesterday that he had placed two backpacks containing money in RM100 denomination notes on a green sofa at the residence of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, in Langgak Duta in late 2017.
Shamsul Rizal Sharbini, 42, when reading out his witness statement, said that he and Saidi Abang Samsudin, who was then his employer, had followed Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah’s car, who was Saidi’s partner, to the house.
“It was the same house where I used to send Saidi to before. When I reached the house, I saw the front door was open. I dropped Saidi there, while Rayyan parked his car outside. At that time I saw Datuk Rizal Mansor (Rosmah’s former aide) waiting at the door of the house,” he said during examination in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam.
The fourth prosecution witness, who is testifying on the second day of Rosmah’s trial for corruption involving projects to provide solar energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak, said when he got to the lobby of the house, Rayyan ordered him to bring the black and orange bags into the residence.
“I brought the two bags in and followed Saidi, Rayyan and Datuk Rizal to a living room. At that time, Saidi, Rayyan and Datuk Rizal were talking and I heard Saidi asking Datuk Rizal ‘Where is Madam’.
“I remembered Datuk Rizal saying ‘Madam is upstairs’. After that, I made my own decision and placed the two bags I was carrying on the green sofa,” he said and identified the sofa from a picture that was shown to him.
Shamsul Riza said after that he left the house with Saidi and Rayyan without the backpacks.
“I didn’t realise if Datuk Rizal had left the house when we left. Saidi never mentioned to me about the two backpacks and the money inside them, neither did I know why Saidi brought the two backpacks to the house,” he added.
He told the court that he was also taken by a few officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to show the location where the two backbags were placed and where they were bought. Prior to that, Shamsul Rizal said he had sent Saidi to Maybank at Jalan Tuanku.
“I dropped Saidi at Maybank and waited for him at the car park. Not long after that, Saidi called me and asked me to buy two backpacks. I then went to Chow Kit and bought two backpacks for RM45 each.
“After that, I went back to the bank and went to the upper floor of the bank with the backpacks as ordered by Saidi, who then ordered me to place packs of RM100 denomination notes in both the backpacks. This happened in the cash room of Maybank,” he added.
However, he said he did not count the money.
Shamsul Rizal also told the court that he had attended a meeting on the solar project for the schools in Sarawak at the Education Ministry.
“I can’t remember the date of the meeting, but it was before Jepak Holdings was awarded the project (Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools).
“I attended the meeting with Rayyan and I was instructed by Saidi to attend the meeting following Rayyan’s request to bring me along (to the meeting),” he added.
Shamsul said there were some verbal exchange during the meeting between Rayyan and officers from the Education Ministry, but could not elaborate on it as he was not paying attention to what was going on during the meeting.
“(The meeting) was outside my job scope and I didn’t understand what they were discussing,” he added.
Rosmah, 68, had pleaded not guilty to a charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving a bribe of RM6.5 million from Saidi through Rizal for the project.
It was as an inducement to help Jepak Holdings to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for the 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.
She allegedly committed the offences at three places, namely Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall in Jalan Putra, at her house in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta and at Seri Perdana Residence, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Precinct 10, Putrajaya between Jan 2016 and Sept 7, 2017. The hearing before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues on Monday. — Bernama