KUALA LUMPUR — Ms Rosmah Mansor’s graft trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court kicked off on Wednesday (Feb 5) with the prosecution saying she used her influence as the then-Malaysian prime minister’s wife to ask for a bigger bribe to facilitate a solar project for rural schools.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, reading out the prosecution’s opening statement, described the 69-year-old wife of Mr Najib Razak as “overbearing”, a trait she used to “wield considerable influence”, media reports quoted him as saying.

“She placed herself in a position where she was able to influence decisions in the public sphere,” said Mr Sri Ram before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.

Ms Rosmah was present in court on Wednesday after skipping the first day of the trial on Monday, on the grounds of hospitalisation for chronic adrenal insufficiency, cervical spondylosis and osteoarthritis in both knees.

Walking with the aid of a cane, she told reporters at the court complex that she “had no choice” but to show up despite being ill.

Mr Sri Ram said Ms Rosmah initially asked Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd for a bribe of more than RM200 million (S$67 million).

She later agreed to a lower amount — RM187.5 million — on the advice of her then-aide Rizal Mansor, who helped set up a meeting between her and Jepak Holdings managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin at Ms Rosmah’s home in Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur, in early 2016.

Mr Saidi was at the time trying to secure a RM1.25 billion building contract for a solar hybrid project for 369 Sarawak rural schools from the Education Ministry.

Mr Sri Ram said Mr Saidi initially failed to obtain the contract, but then got “minuted support” from Mr Najib.

He said the prosecution will prove that after Jepak Holdings was awarded the contract, Mr Saidi brought cash to Ms Rosmah twice – RM5 million to her official residence in Putrajaya on Dec 20, 2016 and RM1.5 million to her Langgak Duta home on Sept 7, 2017.

The prosecution will call as a witness the individual who created the agreement that hid the fact that the payment was a bribe, he said.

Ms Rosmah, who is represented by lawyer Jagjit Singh, faces three counts of corruption under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of RM10,000, or five times the value of the gratification received, whichever is higher.

The first count is for soliciting RM187.5 million between March and April 2016.

The second and third are for receiving RM1.5 million and RM5 million on the abovementioned dates. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT