Rosmah Mansor loses bid to overturn solar graft trial judge decision

Malaysia's Federal Court dismissed Rosmah Mansor's application to review the decision that refused to disqualify trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan in the RM1.25 billion solar‑hybrid project graft case. The three‑member bench, chaired by Chief Judge Azizah Nawawi, ruled that Rosmah failed to meet the threshold under Rule 137 of the Rules of the Federal Court 1995, and therefore the application for review was dismissed.

The ruling removes the final procedural hurdle before the Court of Appeal can hear Rosmah's appeal, scheduled for September, against her conviction, a 10‑year prison sentence and a RM970 million fine. The case stems from allegations that she solicited RM187.5 million from a former Jepak Holdings director for a solar‑hybrid project serving 369 rural schools in Sarawak. The Federal Court upheld that there was no bias or miscarriage of justice in the trial judge’s handling of the case.