The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya has adjourned Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s appeal over her conviction in the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project corruption case, with proceedings now pushed to September.
A three-member bench led by Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli allowed the adjournment, noting that the hearing, initially set to begin today, should only proceed after the Federal Court hears Rosmah’s review application related to her failed bid to disqualify the trial judge who convicted her, Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
The Federal Court is scheduled to hear the review application on July 29.
Justice Azhahari said the court had also considered a letter dated Oct 10, 2024, from the Court of Appeal president directing that the main appeal be deferred until the review application is resolved.
He described the matter as an “ageing case” dating back to 2022, while stressing that no further adjournments would be allowed.
“We have fixed the appeal for hearing. We will not allow any further adjournment,” he said.
The appeal is now scheduled to be heard over multiple dates in September, including Sept 1 to 4, Sept 8 to 11, and Sept 21 to 30.
Justices Datuk Choo Kah Sing and K. Muniandy sat alongside Justice Azhahari on the panel.
The court also took into account the personal circumstances of Rosmah’s lawyer, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, whose son died in a road accident in May.
During proceedings, co-counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh became emotional while informing the court that Akberdin was still grieving the loss of his 24-year-old son, Adli Hakim, who died in a crash involving a cement lorry on the Karak Highway on May 22.
Jagjit said Akberdin had already prepared a significant portion of the written submissions and that his presence was important for the appeal.
Deputy public prosecutor K. Mangai said the prosecution had been instructed to oppose the adjournment, noting that the appeal had been pending since 2023, but left the matter to the court’s discretion in light of the circumstances.
The adjournment follows the Federal Court’s March decision dismissing Rosmah’s bid to recuse Justice Mohamed Zaini and order a retrial, ruling there was no appealable error.
Rosmah remains on a stay of execution pending the outcome of her appeal, after she was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and fined RM970 million in 2022 for corruption involving the Sarawak solar hybrid project.
