By Rozanna Latiff
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A Malaysian court on Thursday ordered Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, to enter a defence in a corruption trial linked to a multi-million dollar project approved while the ex-premier was still in power.
The Kuala Lumpur high court ruled that the prosecution had succeeded in proving sufficient grounds for the case to proceed.
“This is my finding that the prosecution has produced credible evidence to prove every element of the offence… I now call upon the accused to enter a defence,” judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said in his ruling.
Rosmah, who has denied any wrong doing, faces three charges of soliciting and receiving bribes involving a sum of 194 million ringgit ($48.09 million) to help a company, Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, secure a solar power project.
Of that total, prosecutors accuse Rosmah of arranging for 187 million ringgit to be paid as a political donation to Najib, while also receiving two bribes of 6.5 million ringgit.
($1 = 4.0340 ringgit)
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Ed Davies)
