Government offers Rizal Mansor an immunity deal
The Rizal immunity deal has not been finalised yet. The government first wants to know what he is going to say in his testimony and whether it is strong enough to convict Rosmah. At the end of the day it is going to be a case of he says, she says.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
The government has offered Rizal Mansor a deal. Turn ‘crown witness’ and receive immunity from prosecution.
Rizal, together with Rosmah Mansor, has been charged for corruption involving the solar hybrid systems project in Sarawak. However, there is no evidence against Rosmah that can secure her conviction.
So the government wants Rizal to testify against Rosmah, the only way they will be able to convict her. And for that Rizal can receive immunity from prosecution.
The same deal was offered to Jho Low earlier this year. If he turns ‘crown witness’ and testifies against Najib, then he can also receive immunity from prosecution. But he must first return whatever money he may have stolen from 1MDB.
Jho Low, on the other hand, agrees to testify against Najib as long as he need not return any money to the Malaysian government. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has rejected Jho Low’s ‘counter-offer’ if it does not involve the return of any money.
The Rizal immunity deal has not been finalised yet. The government first wants to know what he is going to say in his testimony and whether it is strong enough to convict Rosmah.
The only way they can nail Rosmah would be if Rizal says she instructed him to negotiate and receive the money on her behalf and that the money was handed over to her.
At the end of the day it is going to be a case of he says, she says.
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Rizal Mansor seeks to transfer graft case to High Court
(The Star) – Datuk Rizal Mansor, the former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is facing four counts of graft involving a solar hybrid systems project, will be applying to transfer his case to the High Court.
Rizal’s lawyer Ridha Abdah Subri told the Sessions Court here during a mention on Thursday (Nov 29) that the defence would need 10 days to file a notice of motion and affidavits on the matter.
DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, told the court that the prosecution would apply to have the case to be tried together with Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s case, which also involved the solar hybrid systems project, after the transfer is allowed.
Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob fixed Dec 12 for a re-mention on the status of the transfer.
On Nov 15, Rizal claimed trial to four charges of corruption at the Sessions Court here.
The former aide to the wife of the former premier had allegedly solicited RM212.5mil and received bribes amounting to RM5.5mil on behalf of Rosmah and himself in assisting Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd to obtain the project to supply diesel, repair generators, and provide solar hybrid systems to 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
The first and second charges were for soliciting RM187.5mil from Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin on behalf of Rosmah and RM25mil for himself as an inducement in ensuring that the company received the project.
The third and fourth charges were for corruptly receiving RM5mil on behalf of Rosmah and RM500,000 for himself.
Rizal allegedly received the money from Saidi between March and December 2016.
Rizal is out on a RM1mil bail.
