Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, was found guilty of corruption on Thursday (Sep 1).

The Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced her to 10 years in jail and a fine of RM970 million (US$216 million).

Rosmah, 70, was charged with soliciting RM187.5 million in bribes from contractor Saidi Abang Samsudin in 2016 and 2017 so that his company Jepak Holdings could secure a RM1.25 billion government project to supply solar energy to 369 rural schools in Sarawak state.

She was also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Saidi at the prime minister’s official residence and then later at her private residence in Kuala Lumpur between December 2016 and September 2017.

In delivering the judgment, High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said on Thursday: “The prosecution has succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The accused has been found guilty of all three charges.”

Rosmah was sentenced to 10 years in jail for each charge. All three prison terms will run concurrently.

There will be a stay of execution pending appeal at the Court of Appeal. She will be allowed to remain on her current bail of RM2 million.

During mitigation, Rosmah told the court that she was saddened by the decision.

“To me, the courtroom is where we get justice. I have always told my lawyers to speak the truth and to never lie,” she said, insisting that she has never solicited money.

She also begged for compassion as a “woman taking over a man’s role in the house”, referring to how Najib is now serving time in jail.

“It took me by surprise how things can twist and turn and make me a victim. I have never ever influenced my husband. Every time I opened my mouth, My husband would say, ‘Rosmah, you are just my wife, don’t interfere.’

"I am a victim of all this. You have done it to my husband and you want my family to suffer,” she said.

The court case started in February 2020 and ended on Feb 23 this year, after 42 days of trial. The proceedings were affected by delays, including over Rosmah’s health issues and a witness being placed on home surveillance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.