ROSMAH TRIAL | The ex-prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor's defence team today tore into former education ministry secretary-general Madinah Mohamad's testimony, accusing her of trying to turn Najib Abdul Razak into a scapegoat.

Madinah (above), after being grilled by defence lawyer Akberdin Abdul Kader during cross-examination, eventually conceded that she had made inconsistent statements in court.

Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness in Rosmah corruption trial, Madinah had initially criticised the Education Ministry's solar hybrid project, which Rosmah is accused of lobbying for and receiving kickbacks, stating that they were less viable than the original diesel generators and unsuitable for some schools in the interior, particularly those under heavy jungle cover.

However, Akberdin pointed out that this was not what she had conveyed to then education minister Mahdzir Khalid in her memo on June 16, 2016.

Akberdin: You had said the solar hybrid was a better alternative. Do you agree that this is a contradiction?

Madinah: I disagree. 

Akberdin: You disagree? I have read (your memo). The sentence is short and simple. Don't you agree? Last time you supported the solar (project) and now you support generator sets instead.

Madinah: In that aspect, there is a contradiction.

Madinah had endorsed the issuance of the acceptance letter for the solar hybrid project shortly before she retired as the education secretary-general on Sept 2, 2016.

She was subsequently appointed by Najib as the auditor-general on Feb 27, 2017, replacing Ambrin Buang who retired amid pressure from the government to allegedly alter its audit report on 1MDB, which is now a subject of a separate trial against Najib.

Madinah's appointment at the time had raised eyebrows as her husband Rizuan Abdul Hamid (below), who is the Kepong Umno chief, had in 2015 declared that he would "die for Najib".

She was replaced as auditor-general by Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid on March 8 last year.

Akberdin in cross-examination today, accused Madinah of changing positions after the case went to court.

Akberdin: This project was in 2015 and 2016... today, in 2020, you come to court and go all out to condemn this project

Madinah: That's incorrect.

Akberdin: What is incorrect? I put to you that your actions in court are in bad faith. You say that your decision is based on the prime minister's minutes on June 7, 2016. It's bad faith, when you are trapped, you find a scapegoat. You push the blame to others.

Madinah: That's incorrect.

Akberdin also accused Madinah of having vested interest and failing to advise Najib on the facts of the solar hybrid project, to which Madinah disagreed.

Yesterday, Madinah testified that the solar hybrid project did not follow procedures and had instructed an audit of the project when she became auditor-general.

Madinah's boss, Mahdzir, who previously testified as the fifth witness, had claimed that representatives of Jepak Holdings, Rosmah's aide and Najib had pressured him into approving the solar hybrid project.

Rosmah (above) is facing three charges of soliciting and accepting bribes from Jepak in exchange for her help to secure the RM1.25 billion project to install solar hybrid systems for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.

On the first count, she is accused of dishonestly soliciting RM187.5 million in gratification, which is 15 percent of the solar hybrid project value from Jepak to help them secure the government contract for it.

On the second count, Rosmah is accused of dishonestly accepting RM1.5 million from Jepak's managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin at her Jalan Langgak Duta home.

On the third count, she is accused of accepting another RM5 million from Saidi at her Jalan Langgak Duta home.

The case is being presided over by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.