September 1, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR – All eyes will be on the High Court here today (Sept 1) as it is scheduled to give the verdict on the case involving Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who is facing three corruption charges involving a RM1.25bil hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan is expected to deliver the judgment at 9am on whether the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will be acquitted or found guilty on all three charges.
However, Rosmah filed a last-minute application two days ago to recuse Judge Mohamed Zaini from hearing or making a decision on the case.
It was learnt that the High Court will deal with the application first today.
Below is a timeline of today’s events.
9:42am: High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan says the defence has filed a certificate of urgency to the notice of motion with 15 grounds why the application needs to be heard expeditiously. He says in his court, a certificate of urgency would usually means the matter would be heard the soonest, if not the same day, it would be the next day.
Justice Zaini says that he wants the defence to submit on the application this morning. Jagjit says that he needs some time to gather his thoughts and prepare to submit.
“Impress me with your research. I will wait for you, let know when you are ready,” says the judge before retreating into his chambers.
The court stands down to allow the defence to prepare.
9:34am: Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram objects to the application to stay. He says the prosecution is ready to argue the recusal application. The “leaked judgment”, which made up the subject in the notice of motion to recuse the judge, he says, is not a written judgment at all.
“The application is based on hearsay, entirely,” he says, adding there is no credible and cogent evidence to back it up.
9:30am: Datuk Jagjit Singh addresses the court regarding the defence’s last-minute application to recuse Justice Zaini, to stay the proceedings pending the disposal of the application and for the entire trial to be nullified. He says the prosecution has filed in an affidavit-in-reply, which the defence said it has not seen yet.
“I seek the guidance of the court for a short adjournment to allow us to ventilate this (recusal) motion,” he says.
9:23am: Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan appears in court. Proceedings now begins.
9:13am: Rosmah’s lawyers, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader (left), Azrul Zulkifli Strok (right) seen at KL High Court.
8:56am: Rosmah has arrived in the courtroom. She is wearing a soft yellow baju kurung, shawl and a matching yellow face mask. Together with her is her defence team including counsels Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader and Datuk Jagjit Singh. Rosmah, 70, is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM6.5mil from the former managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, Saidi Abang Samsudin.
8:38am: Lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram enters the High Court.
8:00am: A crowd of media personnel and onlookers gather outside the High Court.
