In a written submission filed with the High Court, the defence said Rosmah had made a convincing reply to the prosecution’s case against her for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes in connection with a RM1.25 billion Sarawak rural schools solar energy project.
Arguing that Rosmah was entitled to an acquittal, her lawyers said that her defence to each of the charges was not one of a bare denial but one with merit.
“The accused has successfully cast a reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s case, by giving a rational explanation and supported by evidence of the prosecution’s own witnesses,” her lawyers said.
Rosmah had also testified last year that she had no reason to use a civil servant (her former aide Rizal Mansor) to collect bribes from development projects when Najib was then head of the government.
“Why should I when I was sleeping with the prime minister,” she had said when re-examined by her lawyer, Akberdin Abdul Kader on Dec 24.
The defence contended that the position of prime minister is far superior to that of Rizal, businessman Saidi Abang Samsudin, former education minister Mahdzir Khalid, and former ministry secretaries-general Madinah Mohamad and Alias Ahmad.
The defence contended that Mahdzir, Madinah and Alias were tainted and not credible witnesses. “They had abused their powers as minister and senior civil servants,” they said, adding that the prosecution exercised selective prosecution against Rosmah.
The lawyers said the investigating officer, Noornabilah Mohd Aziman even admitted in her evidence that the aim of the prosecution is to target Rosmah.
They said it was Rizal who had participated actively in soliciting bribes on numerous occasions from Saidi, without Rosmah’s knowledge, under the pretext that it was meant for the accused.
“This is a classic example of a name-dropping act by Rizal for his own vested interest,” they said.
Rosmah is accused of soliciting RM187.5 million from Saidi, through Rizal, as an inducement to help the company secure the solar project for rural schools in Sarawak. She is also accused of receiving RM5 million in bribes from Saidi, through Rizal, on Dec 20, 2016, and RM1.5 million on Sept 7, 2017.
The prosecution had called 23 witnesses while the defence had two. Trial judge Zaini Mazlan will hear oral submissions on April 5.