Rosmah solar case: Additional evidence hearing put on hold pending federal court appeal

The Court of Appeal has temporarily halted proceedings to gather supplementary evidence from a key prosecution witness in Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's RM1.25 billion Sarawak solar hybrid project corruption case. The decision comes as the prosecution appeals the case at the Federal Court. A three-person Court of Appeal panel, headed by Justice Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli, granted the prosecution's request to delay the recording of evidence.

The defence has no objection to this application, as the prosecution assured them they would expedite the appeal. The proposed evidence pertains to the 16th prosecution witness, businessman Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, who claims he was coerced by the prosecution during the trial. Rosmah, 74, is attempting to submit a police report and a statement from Rayyan Radzwill to support her request for additional evidence to be considered.

The Court of Appeal scheduled a case management hearing via e-Review for October 7, but the appeal hearing originally set for October was cancelled. Rosmah was found guilty by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on September 1, 2022, of three charges involving soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes and receiving RM6.5 million in return for facilitating the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

She was sentenced to 10 years in prison for each charge, to be served concurrently, and fined an additional RM970 million, or another 10 years' imprisonment if she failed to pay. The sentence was suspended pending her appeal.