Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has suffered another legal setback after the Court of Appeal dismissed her attempt to remove the judge presiding over her corruption trial connected to the RM1.25 billion Sarawak solar hybrid project.
The appellate court found no merit in her allegation of bias against High Court judge Justice Zaini Mazlan, who had overseen her trial. A three-member panel, led by Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, determined that Rosmah had failed to demonstrate any evidence that the judge acted with prejudice. The decision, which was reached unanimously, also included Justices Azman Abdullah and Noorin Badaruddin.
Rosmah had argued that the trial judge should be recused, but the panel maintained that her claims did not meet the threshold required for judicial disqualification. The court stressed that judicial impartiality cannot be questioned based on perception alone without substantial proof of bias.
The ruling leaves intact the earlier conviction delivered in September 2022, when Rosmah was found guilty of soliciting and receiving bribes totaling RM194 million. These payments were linked to securing a lucrative government contract to supply solar hybrid systems to rural schools in Sarawak. At the time, she was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined RM970 million, an amount that underscored the severity of the offence.
Married to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Rosmah has long been a controversial figure in Malaysian politics. Her legal troubles have often run parallel to Najib’s own corruption scandals, both of which have symbolized the broader challenges of accountability and governance in the country.
The Court of Appeal’s decision signals that Rosmah’s legal avenues for challenging the conduct of her trial are narrowing. While she may continue to pursue further appeals on her conviction and sentence, the rejection of her recusal bid indicates that the judiciary is standing firm on the integrity of its process.
The Sarawak solar project case has remained one of the most high-profile graft trials in Malaysia, not only due to the massive contract value but also because of its association with rural education funding—an area where corruption allegations struck a particularly sensitive chord with the public.
For now, the appellate ruling cements the standing of Justice Zaini Mazlan’s handling of the trial, leaving Rosmah to confront her existing conviction and sentence while considering her next legal move.
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