Rosmah’s ex-aide demanded money for umrah, Court hears

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 07:20 am

PETALING JAYA – Rosmah Mansor’s former aid Rizal Mansor has pressured and demanded money from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin to sponsir his family’s trip to perform the Umrah in Mekah, the High Court was told today.

Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah testified on court that Rizal Mansor had forced and convinced Saidi to sponsor the religious pilgrimage trip together with his family.

The witness also confirmed that the aide demanded RM25 million from Jepak as his commission following the approval of RM1.25 billion solar project for 369 rural Sarawak schools.

Saidi also told him that Rizal received a a RM500,000 contribution in the aide’s house in Segambut in December 2016 which he was told to pay ‘in cash’.

Rayyan, however, has yet to confirmed on whether the businessman was able to pay Rizal in seven tranches between 2016 and 2017.

Rizal has been charged last year for the solicitation of RM5.5 million in bribes for himself and Rosmah.

Rosmah has been charged with three counts of corruption involving the solar project. The annomalies came to light after website Sarawak Report alleged that Rosmah’s husband Najib Razak ordered the contract to be awarded to Jepak Holdings, a transport services firm based in Bintulu. The project was abandoned although the government already paid around RM100m in progress payment.