Lawyers Akberdin Abdul Kader and Jagjit Singh have replaced counsel K Kumaraendran and Geethan Ram Vincent who appeared for the former prime minister’s wife, who was charged in the Sessions Court last month.
The Sessions Court was informed of the change by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib when the case was brought up for mention today.
Meanwhile, Akberdin told the judge that the defence had yet to obtain all documents that would be used by the prosecution during trial.
In response, Akram said the documents would be handed over to the defence before the next mention date on Jan 11.
Akram also said the prosecution did not mind making an application to transfer the case to the High Court if the defence was no doing so.
Akberdin said the defence needed to study the documents before making a decision to apply for the transfer.
On Nov 15, Rosmah was charged with attempting 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.
Both offences come under Section 16 (a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
If found guilty, she could be jailed for up to 20 years and fined not less than five times the value of gratification for each of the charges.
Rosmah’s former aide Rizal Mansor, 44, was also charged in a separate court 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.
The solar project courted controversy when whistleblower website Sarawak Report alleged in June that Najib had ordered the contract to be awarded to Jepak Holdings, a transportation services company based in Bintulu.
Jepak Holdings was appointed at the end of 2016 for the supply of diesel and repair of generators, and to provide solar hybrid systems for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
To date, none of the schools have these systems.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Kumaraendran and Vincent would remain Rosmah’s lawyers in the money laundering case involving about RM7 million. The case has been transferred to the High Court.