PUTRAJAYA — The Court of Appeal has granted the prosecution’s request to stay the execution of an earlier order permitting Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to introduce new evidence in her ongoing appeal related to the solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

The decision was made during a mention before a three-judge panel chaired by Justice Azahari Kamal Ramli on Thursday. Justice Azahari explained that, with the consent of both parties, the court agreed to stay the Sept. 1 order until the Federal Court disposes of the prosecution’s appeal against that order.

The appellate court also vacated the October 14 hearing date for Rosmah’s main appeal in the solar case. Justice Azahari instructed that the parties update the status of the matter to the High Court, where the new evidence is to be heard and recorded, once the Federal Court issues its ruling.

The panel also included Justices Dr. Choo Kah Sing and K. Muniandy.

This latest development follows a Sept. 1 decision by another Court of Appeal panel that allowed Rosmah to adduce new evidence from prosecution witness Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah. The evidence comprised a police report, supporting affidavit, and statutory declaration, with the High Court ordered to record Rayyan’s testimony.

During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Asnawi Abu Hanipah told the court that both the prosecution and defence had agreed on the stay and that the defence would not oppose the application. He noted that the prosecution had filed a notice of appeal on Sept. 4 against the Sept. 1 order and was currently seeking a case management date at the Federal Court.

Rosmah’s counsel, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, confirmed the defence's lack of objection, citing assurances from the prosecution that the Federal Court appeal would be expedited.

Rosmah Mansor was convicted on Sept. 1, 2022, by the High Court on three counts under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009. She was found guilty of soliciting RM187.5 million and accepting bribes totaling RM6.5 million from Saidi Abang Samsudin, former managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The payments were allegedly funnelled through her former aide, Datuk Rizal Masonr, as a reward for facilitating Jepak Holdings’ securing of the RM1.25 billion Integrated Solar Photovoltaic Hybrid System Project, alongside genset and diesel maintenance contracts for 369 schools granted directly by the Education Ministry.

Rosmah received a sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on each charge and was fined RM970 million, with a default imprisonment term of 10 years in the event of non-payment. The Court of Appeal had previously stayed the execution of her sentence pending the outcome of her appeal.