Former Malaysian PM Najib's wife Rosmah to present herself to court Thursday: Lawyer
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Rosmah Mansor and her former aide Rizal Mansor are expected to be charged in court on Nov 15.
PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak has been asked to present herself before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Thursday (Nov 15).
Her lawyer K. Kumaraendran said Rosmah had given her statement to graft investigators on Wednesday ahead of her being charged.
"She (Rosmah) has completed recording her statement. She has been asked to come to court tomorrow," he told reporters at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters on Wednesday.
When asked to confirm if Rosmah would be charged over the RM1.25 billion (S$412 million) solar hybrid project for schools in Sarawak, Mr Kumaraendran said: "I will not take any questions. You will find out tomorrow in court."
Rosmah had arrived at the MACC headquarters at 11.40am on Wednesday, amid speculation she would be detained at the agency overnight before being charged in court on Thursday.
Instead of being arrested, she was allowed to leave the agency premises after giving her statement. The car ferrying her was seen leaving the MACC premises at 2.30pm.
Rosmah and her former aide Rizal Mansor are said to be facing six charges involving RM6.5 million related to the solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak. The exact charges that will be brought against Rosmah and Rizal, however, are still unknown.
Rosmah's lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent confirmed that she would be charged on Thursday and that she had been told to be in court at 8.30am that day. It will be the second time Rosmah will be hauled to court.
On Oct 4, she was charged with 17 counts of money laundering involving over RM7 million. She was placed under arrest by the MACC then, after giving her statement a day earlier.
The solar hybrid project courted controversy when whistle-blowing website Sarawak Report alleged in June 2018 that the contract was awarded to Bintulu-based company Jepak Holdings on the "direct" order of former prime minister Najib.
Jepak Holdings - a transportation services company - was appointed at the end of 2016 to supply diesel, repair generators and provide solar hybrid systems for 369 schools.
Rizal was arrested by the MACC in July 2018 following allegations that he solicited money from Jepak Holdings over the project.
In June, the graft busters also arrested a company director, managing director and a lawyer over the controversial project.
The MACC began investigating the billion-ringgit project in April, a month before Malaysia's general election.
