Wife of Malaysian ex-PM Najib’s 10-day trial marked by screaming matches and crying supporters
- Rosmah Mansor, the self-styled former ‘First Lady of Malaysia’, married to disgraced former PM Najib Razak, faces 20 charges including money laundering
- Her trial has also featured claims of emergency medical situations and shouting matches between her lawyer and the lead prosecutor
A screaming match broke out between Rosmah’s lawyer Jagjit Singh and lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram on Thursday over the latter’s supposed hearing difficulties, after Sri Ram asked a witness to speak up as he was “deaf”.
Later, when Jagjit attempted to clarify a point during questioning, Sri Ram accused Jagjit of sleeping, only for Jagjit to tell him off loudly. This led to Sri Ram asking him not to shout, and Jagjit snapping back: “I am shouting because you yourself said that you are deaf.”
Other dramatic highlights included Rosmah telling supporters gathered outside the courthouse not to cry, and taking ill in the dock.
“Don’t ever cry … You are all made of better stuff,” she told several women on Wednesday. Last week, proceedings were adjourned early after Rosmah refused to leave the courtroom at lunchtime, claiming she felt unwell.