Rosmah gets release of passport for travel to Singapore

The Court of Appeal today allowed Rosmah Mansor's application for the temporary release of her passport for travel to Singapore to visit her daughter and a grandson who is unwell.

A three-member panel of judges comprising justices Kamaludin Md Said, Hadhariah Syed Ismail and Azman Abdullah made the decision after deputy public prosecutor Poh Yih Tinn raised no objections to her application.

Kamaludin said since there was no objection by the prosecution to the application, the court would unanimously grant the order in terms.

Earlier, Rosmah's lawyer, Jagjit Singh, informed the court that the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak was seeking leave for the release of her international passport for travel to Singapore to visit her daughter, her son-in-law and two grandchildren, one of whom was unwell.

He said she would leave for Singapore on March 23 and remain in the republic for six weeks, as well as spend the Hari Raya celebration there, before returning on May 5.
 
"We will give an undertaking to return her (Rosmah's) passport (to the court) within one week of her return," said Jagjit.

Poh then suggested that Rosmah return her passport on or before May 10.

Rosmah's passport was impounded by the court in 2019 after she was charged with corruption.

On Sept 1 last year, then High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan who is now a Court of Appeal judge found Rosmah guilty of three corruption charges involving RM1.25 billion in connection with a hybrid solar project for schools in Sarawak. 

Rosmah, 71, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for each charge to be served concurrently, meaning she would only serve 10 years in jail. She was also fined RM970 million in default of 30 years in jail.

She was also accused of one count of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.

The High Court, however, granted Rosmah a stay of execution of the prison sentence and fine pending her appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Rosmah's appeal against her conviction, 10-year imprisonment and RM970 million fine for corruption is fixed for hearing at the Court of Appeal for four days beginning July 11.

Also representing Rosmah, who were present in court today, were lawyers Akberdin Abdul Kader and Azrul Zulkifli Stork.