High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan vacated today’s hearing after senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the court that Rosmah’s MySejahtera status was still orange.
“I’m advised by my learned friend that their client is still unable to attend court because her (orange) status has not changed. I’m in a very difficult situation because I’ve already suggested to the court the possibility of having a hybrid hearing.
“I also suggested that we facilitate Rosmah to give evidence from her home, with the presence of two deputy prosecutors, the defence counsel and the court officials,” he said.
Jagjit Singh, representing Rosmah, affirmed that as of today, Rosmah’s MySejahtera status had not reverted to blue.
“The next trial is scheduled on Dec 23 and I assure (you) my client will be able to attend. I would prefer the proceedings to be carried out as usual with all parties physically present in court,” he said.
However, Zaini said he would take into consideration Sri Ram’s suggestion for a hybrid proceeding to ensure that the trial would not be further disrupted.
“I have to make provisions because we cannot carry on like this. The trial must come to an end eventually. The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting dimmer and dimmer,” the judge said.
The court then fixed additional dates – Dec 23-24 and Jan 10-14 as well as Feb 4 – for the trial.
On Dec 8 and 10, Zaini had vacated Rosmah’s trial, contending that SOPs at the court complex only allowed people with blue MySejahtera status to enter the building and not allow those with close or casual contact with Covid-19 cases into the premises.
Rosmah, who is celebrating her 70th birthday today, is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two charges of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin through her former assistant, Rizal Mansor, as a reward for assisting the company to secure a RM1.25 billion project to equip 369 schools in rural Sarawak with solar hybrid power.