Solar graft appeal postponed.
Rosmah Mansor's RM1.25 billion solar graft appeal delayed to September, court warns no further adjournments.
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Key Points
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The graft case centers on a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
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The adjournment hearing is before a three-judge bench led by Justice Azhahari Kamal Ramli, with Justices Choo Kah Sing and K. Muniandy also on the panel.
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An Oct. 10, 2024 letter from the Court of Appeal president directed the adjournment pending the disposal of Rosmah’s recusal review in the Federal Court.
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Rosmah’s counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader has been affected by a personal bereavement, with his son Adli Hakim (24) dying in a car crash on May 22 on the Karak Highway.
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Rosmah was convicted on September 1, 2022 by Judge Zaini Mazlan for soliciting and receiving bribes related to the Sarawak solar project, and was sentenced to 10 years’ jail and RM970 million in fines.
Malaysia's Court of Appeal has postponed Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's graft appeal to September, clearing 16 hearing days across the month for the case. The three-judge panel, led by Justice Azhahari Kamal Ramli, issued a firm warning: no more delays. "We will not allow any further adjournment," he said, according to Bernama. "We are not compromising on these dates."
Rosmah was convicted in September 2022 for soliciting and receiving bribes tied to a RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a record RM970 million fine. Her appeal has now sat in the system for nearly four years, according to The Edge Malaysia.
Federal Court Recusal Review Holds Up the Main Appeal
The Court of Appeal did not postpone the hearing on its own. An October 2024 letter from the Court of Appeal president directed that the main appeal be deferred until Rosmah's recusal bid was fully resolved, according to Malay Mail. That bid centers on Rosmah's challenge to the original trial judge, Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
Rosmah argues the trial was tainted by a "leaked draft judgment" published online before the 2022 verdict. Multiple courts have already rejected this claim. The Federal Court turned it down in March 2026. But Rosmah filed a further review under Rule 137, which allows the apex court to revisit its own rulings. That review is set for July 29, according to FMT.
Counsel's Personal Tragedy Adds to the Case's Long Delays
The adjournment also came out of respect for Rosmah's lead counsel, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, whose 24-year-old son Adli Hakim died in a car crash on the Karak Highway on May 22, 2026, according to The Star. Co-counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh told the court: "He is like my own younger brother. He is still grieving and mourning."
The prosecution opposed the delay. Deputy Public Prosecutor K. Mangai argued the appeal had been pending since 2023 and should move forward without more waiting, according to FMT. The court granted the adjournment anyway but set firm windows: September 1–4, 8–11, and 21–30. The bench made clear these dates are final.
RM1.25 Billion Project and the Bribes at the Center of the Case
The case involves a government contract to install solar hybrid power systems in 369 rural schools in Sarawak. Rosmah was found guilty of soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM6.5 million in bribes from Saidi Abang Samsudin, the former managing director of Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, according to The Edge Malaysia.
The RM970 million fine is the largest ever handed down in Malaysia. If Rosmah fails to pay, she faces an extra 10 years in jail on top of her existing sentence, according to Bernama. She is also the wife of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is separately serving a prison sentence for his role in the 1MDB scandal.
September Hearing Could Finally Force a Verdict on This Ageing Case
Justice Azhahari described the appeal as an "ageing case," a signal that the court is losing patience with repeated postponements, according to Malay Mail. If the July 29 Federal Court review goes against Rosmah, there will be no remaining grounds to delay the September hearing. A decision on her appeal could then come by late 2026 or early 2027.
If the Federal Court grants Rosmah's review bid, however, the entire 2022 trial could be nullified. That would force a costly retrial — and reset a case that has already dragged on for nearly eight years since her first charges in November 2018, according to FMT.
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