Rosmah Mansor will be charged over the Billion Ringgit solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak: Next date in court, Monday, 3 February 2020…

For Rosmah, 69, it will be the first day of her corruption trial in connection with the supply and installation of solar energy at 369 rural schools in Sarawak, which is before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, while Najib, 67, is scheduled to continue his defence before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

Rosmah’s case will begin at 2pm…Rosmah is facing three counts of corruption involving hundreds of millions of ringgit.

A source said after the prosecution read out its opening statement.

Rosmah was initially supposed to be tried with her former special officer, Rizal Mansor, who was charged with four counts of soliciting and receiving bribes on behalf of Rosmah over the project.

However, on Jan 8, the court acquitted Rizal of the charges after the prosecution withdrew all four charges against him.

On Nov 15, 2018, Rosmah pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to two counts of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM1.5 million for projects to provide solar energy to rural schools in Sarawak.

On the first count, she was charged with dishonestly soliciting for herself, made through Rizal, a gratification, to the amount of RM187,500,000, which is 15 percent of the value of the contract for the project, from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

It was as an inducement to help the company (Jepak Holdings) to secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Diesel for 369 rural schools in Sarawak, worth RM1.25 billion through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.

She was charged with committing the offence at Lygon Cafe, G-24, Ground Floor, Sunway Putra Mall, 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit, here between March and April 2016.

On the second count, Rosmah was charged with dishonestly receiving for herself RM1,500,000 from Saidi for the same purpose at ‪No. 11, Jalan‬ ‪Langgak‬ ‪Duta,‬ ‪Taman‬ ‪Duta‬, here on Sept 7, 2017.

She was charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC) and faces imprisonment for up to 20 years and fine of not less than five times the amount of the gratification of RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

On April 10, 2019, Rosmah was charged again in the Sessions Court here with accepting gratification of RM5 million from Saidi through Rizal for helping Jepak Holdings to secure the same project at the same place in Jalan Langgak Duta.

All the cases had been transferred from the Sessions Court to the High Court for trial.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/509205

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The solar hybrid project courted controversy when Sarawak Report alleged in June that the contract was awarded to Bintulu-based company Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd. Jepak Holdings is a transportation services company supposedly on “direct” order of Najib.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/12/rosmah-to-face-new-charges-case-involves-rm125bil-solar-hybrid-project-for-rural-schools/#x3XttrizyzzaDb73.99

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New Straits Times @NST_Online

Joint trial for Rosmah and Rizal’s graft charges involving solar hybrid project

KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has maintained her not guilty plea on her second corruption case involving RM5 million in kickbacks over the solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

Rosmah maintained the plea when the charge was re-read before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan today.

On May 10, Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to receiving a bribe of RM5 million from Saidi Abang Samsudin, 60, who is the managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd through her aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.

According to the charge sheet, Rosmah purportedly received the money as a reward to help the company obtain a RM1.25 billion project known as the Hybrid Photovoltaic Solar System Integrated Project and Maintenance and Operation of Genset/Deisel, a solar hybrid project for 396 rural schools in Sarawak through direct negotiation from the Education Ministry.

The court ordered for the charge to be heard together with her first corruption charges and Datuk Rizal Mansor’s corruption charges as it involved the same project.

On May 30, Mohamed Zaini fixed the solar case trial date involving Rosmah and Rizal as well as Rosmah’s money laundering cases to begin in 2020.

The dates for the solar case trial are Feb 3 to Feb 6, Feb 10 to Feb 13, Feb 17 to Feb 20, March 9 to March 12, April 6 to April 9, April 13 to April 16, April 20 to April 23 and April 27 to April 30.

The trial will commence for 32 days, except on Fridays.

The court fixed Jan 10, 2020 for mention.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2019/07/507150/joint-trial-rosmah-and-rizals-graft-charges-involving-solar-hybrid

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15 November 2018

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KUALA LUMPUR: Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, was charged along with her former aide today with receiving bribes in connection to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.

Rosmah was said to have attempted to obtain RM187.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin between March and April in 2016.

The amount was 15% of the value of the contract, said to be as an inducement to help the company obtain the project via direct negotiation from the education ministry.

Rosmah was also charged with receiving RM1.5 million in bribes from Saidi to assist him in obtaining the contract. The offence was allegedly committed on Sept 7 last year at her private residence in Taman Duta here.
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The court allowed bail of RM1 million. Rosmah’s lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent requested that she be allowed to pay the bail in instalments over 10 days.

The judge ordered Rosmah to pay RM500,000 today and the rest within seven days.
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Rosmah’s former aide Rizal Mansor, 44, was charged in a separate courtroom before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob in connection with the same project.

He was charged with two counts of soliciting and another two counts of receiving bribes from Saidi, in offences committed at a cafe in Sunway Putra Mall.

These include soliciting RM187.5 million on behalf of Rosmah between March and April 2016, as well as RM25 million from Saidi for himself as an inducement to ensure Rosmah would help Jepak Holdings secure the project.

Rizal was also charged with two counts of receiving a total of RM5.5 million from Saidi in December 2016, as reward for Rosmah in helping the company secure the project.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/11/15/rosmah-aide-charged-with-taking-bribes-over-rm200-million-for-sarawak-solar-project/

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14 November 2018

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12 November 2018

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zzz mansor

PETALING JAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will most likely be hauled to court again – this time over a RM1.25bil solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.

The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to face several charges together with her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.

A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission source said the duo would be charged by this week.

However, it is unclear what role Rosmah played in the deal or what charges would be brought against her. Those familiar with ongoing investigations are tight-lipped.

On Oct 4, Rosmah was charged with 17 counts of money laundering involving over RM7mil.

The solar hybrid project courted controversy when Sarawak Report alleged in June that the contract was awarded to Bintulu-based company Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd. Jepak Holdings is a transportation services company supposedly on “direct” order of Najib.

Asked if Najib and former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid would also face charges, the source said: “Not yet”.

Mahdzir was grilled for several hours by the MACC last month, also over the same project.

Najib was called in by the commission on Thursday to assist in investigations as a witness for several cases. One is for the solar hybrid project.

Jepak Holdings was appointed at the end of 2016 for the supply of diesel, repair of generators and to provide solar hybrid systems for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

To date, none of the schools has it.

Rizal was arrested by the MACC in July following allegations that he solicited money from Jepak Holdings over the project. However, it is believed that the money did not change hands.

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 the general election.

https://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/?p=143621

Rosmah to face new charges


PETALING JAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will most likely be hauled to court again – this time over a RM1.25bil solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.

The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to face several charges together with her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor.

A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission source said the duo would be charged by this week.

However, it is unclear what role Rosmah played in the deal or what charges would be brought against her. Those familiar with ongoing investigations are tight-lipped.
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Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/11/12/rosmah-to-face-new-charges-case-involves-rm125bil-solar-hybrid-project-for-rural-schools/#x3XttrizyzzaDb73.99

10 June 2018

Najib Signed Off Hundreds Of Millions On ‘Scam’ Solar Project For Sarawak Schools

Sarawak Report has viewed copious documents indicating that in January 2017 the former Prime Minister personally pushed through an extraordinary RM1.25 billion project, which was  awarded to a car rental company in Bintulu, purporting to install solar energy supplies for 369 Sarawak schools in the interior.

Letters signed by Najib clearly authorised for the Ministry of Education’s strict rules on tendering and price negotiation to be over-ruled during the awarding of the project and later for payments to continue to be made, even though the terms of the contract were not being fulfilled by the company.

Ministry of Education staff who raised concerns about quality control were transferred from their posts, according to our information, and reports to the police and MACC were ignored right up until the last election. [update: the MACC have responded to say  they started an investigation in April, the month before GE14],

Insiders say several companies qualified to install solar power in Malaysia were by-passed for the contract, in favour of the politically connected Sarawak company, Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, which lacked a track record in the field.

Jepak Holdings owner, PPB man Saidi Abg Samsudin (right) with the ex-Minister of Education

So far, eighteen months into the three year contract, not a single solar power unit has yet been installed at any of the designated schools, although the money has continued to flow from the Department of Education.

Angry whistleblowers have now passed their dossier of damning information to senior anti-corruption figures in the new government, who have indicated the matter is now being investigated. As one disgusted insider told Sarawak Report:

“The company was made tycoon overnight by Najib.  This company even enjoyed a privilege never given to any companies in the world where even price comparison and negotiations were skipped. Najib’s Minutes for the Company encompasses issuing an Uncompromising Letter of Award, pressing the Ministry to forgo price negotiations and also requesting the Ministry to approve the finalized price set by the company itself.”

Solar Power Plan Or Fancy Excuse To Award A Billion Ringgit?

Particularly galling for Sarawak families is the fact that the consequences of the contract have included serious supply problems for the affected schools, many of which have been regularly cut off from electricity altogether and facing blackouts for several hours a day.

Jepak boss Saidi with PPB boss, Governor Taib Mahmud

Previous to this project, which was touted to provide cleaner, cheaper solar energy, the affected schools relied on deisel generators, which were supplied and maintained by some 30 local companies, who were required to regularly tender for the service contracts by the Ministry of Education. Jepak Holdings had held one of the contracts.

However, under the new contract Jepak Holdings took over the entire diesel supply and maintenance work for all 369 schools for an agreed lump sum of RM21.8 million a month, whilst simultaneously being tasked to convert the schools to solar hybrid systems at a rate of at least ten schools a month.

It might appear a seemingly enlightened strategy, if placed in the right hands for the right amount of money.  However, insiders say that the diesel contract was in fact heavily inflated above the actual cost of supplying the schools.

Worse, despite raking in millions, the company has failed to provide sufficient upkeep and supply of the existing diesel generators, let alone install the new solar power supplies. The schools need 2 to 4 generators, but most are currently running on just 1 genset which can only provide electricity for a maximum of 12 hours a day.  According to a source:

“to cover up their incompetency, the company just falsified claims and in at least one case forged a school principle’s signature on forms to verify the work. The principle discovered this fraud when Ministry officials conducted a random check. The school head then wrote to officially complain to Ministry, but no action was taken.  Instead, the principle was later forced to withdraw the complaint after receiving threats.  He was even told to call certain high ranking officers in Ministry and to inform them that it had just been a misunderstanding.”

Jepak Holdings

So, what appears to be the background to this chaotic situation, where over a billion ringgit of public money appears to have been thrown at making life even worse for Sarawak’s interior schools and teachers?

Jepak Holdings is owned by PBB big-wig Saidi Abg Samsudin and his wife and daughter

Jepak Holdings is primarily a car rental company, set up in 1985, is owned by a senior PBB member Saidi Abg Samsudin, who is the Deputy Chief of the party’s Jepak, Bintulu seat.

PPB man from Jepak nabbed the RM1.2bn contract as elections loomed

He is right hand man to the state seat YB Talib Bin Zulpilip, a long-term party insider close to Taib Mahmud, who chaired the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation for many years.

Most crucially, perhaps, Saidi is known to have had a close relationship with Najib and Rosmah and since the issuing of the contract has also become a regular golfing companion of the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Alias bin Ahmad, whom the documents show took an unsual interest in helping force through the Sarawak schools solar project against the advice of civil servants.

Saidi and new buddy Alias bin Ahmed last year

Alias bin Ahmad resigned his post just before GE14, having sidelined staff whom he accused of being particularly critical of the management of the project.

It is understood that he was a personal appointee at the Ministry of Education of Najib’s, in that the prime minister had overruled the minister’s own selection for the post in favour of Alias.

Photographs show that Saidi prominently attended the wedding of Alias’s daughter in KL and closely socialised with the Chief Education Secretary.

Saidi also is understood to have supplied RM1 million that Rosmah presented to the families of victims of fire in a religious school last year and he has been photographed socialising with Rosmah’s key aide and spokesman Rizal Mansor.

The Bintulu man was equally known to have forged a close relationship with the former Eduction Minister himself, Mahdzir bin Khalid, who together with his Chief Secretary is said to have battled with civil servants to defend the contract and finally went over the department’s head to gain Najib’s approval to ignore rules on contracts.

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For the whole article:

http://www.sarawakreport.org/2018/06/najib-signed-off-hundreds-of-millions-on-scam-solar-project-for-sarawak-schools/

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2 Responses to Rosmah Mansor will be charged over the Billion Ringgit solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak: Next date in court, Monday, 3 February 2020…

  1. Doris Looi's avatar Doris Looi says:

    So many scams Ok Can get 50 yrs or only 5 yrs Malaysia Boleh

  2. Pingback: Mahdzir Khalid, ex Education Minister, to be charged over the Billion Ringgit solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak… | weehingthong

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