A witness today told the High Court here that former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid asked for 20 per cent from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd (Jepak Holdings) as gratification for helping the company secure the solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak worth RM1.25 billion from the Education Ministry (KPM) in 2016.
Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah, 40, a business partner of Jepak managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin said this during the cross-examination by counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader in the trial of the wife of former Prime Minister Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in connection to the solar energy project.
Akberdin: We know already the role played by Mahdzir in this project, because of the role he played in this project, I state that he asked for 20 per cent from Jepak as payment for helping Jepak Holdings in this project.
Rayyan Radzwill: Yes, through his friend named Md Fuad Yasin, and he (Md Fuad) was one of the individuals who was present during the first technical meeting (on the project) at the KPM.
Akberdin: Do you remember or not, because 20 per cent was big, Saidi said it cannot be entertained because (20 per cent) was too high, and after discussions, the 20 per cent was reduced to RM60 million for five years.
Rayyan Radzwill: Yes, true.
The 16th prosecution witness was testifying in the corruption trial of Rosmah, 68, who is facing a charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two other charges of receiving bribe of RM6.5mil from Saidi.
The bribe was received through her then-aide Datuk Rizal Mansor as gratification for helping Jepak Holdings secure the Hybrid Photovoltaic Integrated System and maintenance and operation of genset-diesel worth RM1.25bil for 369 rural schools in Sarawak through direct negotiation with the Education Ministry.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Lygon Cafe, Sunway Putra Mall, Jalan Putra, here; her residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta and at Seri Perdana, Persiaran Seri Perdana, Presint 10, Putrajaya, between January 2016 and Sept 7, 2017.
In his previous testimony, Mahdzir who is also the fifth prosecution witness denied the allegation by Rosmah’s counsel that he received RM60 million from Jepak Holdings as gratification for assisting the company secure the solar project.
Rayyan Radzwill who is also Nanocarb Technology Sdn Bhd director told the court that Saidi told him his business partner paid RM50,000 for hotel accommodations for UMNO delegates from Padang Terap, Kedah, during the UMNO General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.
The prosecution witness agreed with Akberdin that the secretary of UMNO Pekan division, Pahang, Datuk Aazmey Abu Talib also played a key role in assisting Jepak Holdings secure the solar project by procuring the minutes from former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
"As payment for the services given by Datuk Aazmey, Jepak drew up a consulting service agreement with him for the gratification that should be given to him,” Akberdin said, to which Rayyan Radzwill agreed, adding that he prepared the agreement on behalf of Jepak Holdings.
"In short, the agreement between Jepak Holdings and Datuk Aazmey through the agreement was that Jepak Holdings agreed in principle to pay Datuk Aazmey RM50 million,” Akberdin said.
"I do not remember the amount, but I remember it was four or five per cent (of the RM1.25 billion solar project”, the witness said.
“Do you agree that Saidi had paid almost RM2 million to Datuk Aazmey," Akberdin said, and Rayyan Radzwill replied: "Agreed, Datuk Aazmey did tell me."
At one point, the witness became emotional when he said that from the beginning, he did not agree with the act of offering large sums of money to politicians to secure the project.
Rayyan Radzwill said he agreed to help Saidi in the technical work to secure the project because he came from a poor family which constantly suffered electricity disruptions.
“I told Saidi not to give money to them (politicians) but if you want to give, then give it to their areas, but Saidi was stubborn and said this (giving money) was necessary in order to secure a project. That is why many dealings of giving money (by Saidi) was outside my knowledge. When there was fraud about the terms of the project, I was called to lodge a police report,” he said.
The hearing before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan continues tomorrow.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Aug 03 2020
A witness today told the High Court here that former Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid asked for 20 per cent from Jepak Holdings. - Filepic/Astro AWANI
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
Malaysia kongsi pengalaman dalam usaha berterusan mempertahan Palestin
Delegasi negara akan berkongsikan peranan Malaysia dalam usaha berterusan mempertahankan nasib Palestin dalam Persidangan Liga Parlimen Al-Quds kelima yang berlangsung di Istanbul, Turki pada Sabtu.
Universiti Malaya mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik, Universiti Malaya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhubung kenytaaan tidak bertanggungjawab Profesor Dr Bruce Gilley pada 24 April lalu.
Genting Malaysia nafi terbabit perbincangan
Selepas Berjaya Corporation Bhd dan Kerajaan Negeri Johor, kini Genting Malaysia Bhd pula menafikan sebarang penglibatan dalam perbincangan mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 27 April 2024.
Lima cedera dalam tembakan di luar kelab malam di Washington
Lima cedera dalam insiden tembakan di luar sebuah kelab malam di Washington, Amerika Syarikat pada lewat Jumaat.
Permohonan Rosmah tangguh prosiding rayuan kes solar didengar Jumaat ini
Rayuan Rosmah terhadap sabitan dan hukuman penjara 10 tahun serta denda RM970 juta bagi kesalahan rasuah itu akan didengar selama empat hari bermula 11 Julai.
Peguam Puteri Sarah bantah injunksi, mahu kebebasan bersuara
Kata Akberdin Abdul Kadir sepatutnya setiap orang ada hak kebebasan bersuara.
Hakim kanan ambil tindakan undang-undang ke atas Lokman Adam
Hakim kanan ambil tindakan undang-undang ke atas Lokman Adam