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KUALA LUMPUR • A former aide to the wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told a court yesterday that he received RM 100,000 (S $ 32,800) per month from Rosmah Mansor in 2012 to pay a team of “cyber troops” to monitor the content of social networks. media and defend it from online attacks.
“This team was also responsible for countering and explaining every defamation, claim and accusation towards Datin Seri Rosmah to the public,” said Datuk Rizal Mansor, who is not related to Rosmah.
“The cyber-soldiers were operating with funds provided by Datin Seri Rosmah herself. She gave me RM100,000 in cash every month to fund the team,” the witness said according to the Malay Mail in the Rosmah corruption trial.
The 69-year-old faces one count of requesting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving a total of RM6.5 million in exchange for helping a company, Jepak Holdings, win a RM1.25 billion solar project for schools. in Sarawak. .
Mr. Rizal himself was initially charged with four counts of soliciting and receiving bribes involving RM218 million for Rosmah for the same project. But the charges were dropped and he was acquitted in January.
Rizal, 46, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday that his main responsibilities were to protect Rosmah’s image and reputation, as it was under close scrutiny from the public.
Rizal, who is the 21st witness for the prosecution, said Rosmah was often the subject of public perception, for example, how she was the real power behind Najib and for leading an extravagant lifestyle, according to online news. from Malay Mail.
She said that in 2012, Rosmah told her to set up a team of cyber-soldiers, individuals who would spread political propaganda online for a fee, which she would pay.
Rizal also told the court that Rosmah was feared in the civil service due to her reputation as Najib’s “fierce wife”, but this was simply her perception, The Star reported online.
She added that she was seen as the wife who could influence Najib’s decisions and actions.
“In the eyes of public servants, Rosmah has the ability to influence the prime minister to transfer government servants who oppose or challenge her applications to lesser positions, or in other words, to put them in ‘cold rooms ‘or they move them to places further away than where they live, “Rizal said.
He acquired this insight, he said, by mixing with public officials, but said at the time, he did not believe it was true and attributed it to rumors that were spreading to ruin Rosmah’s reputation.
“As his special officer, he would always defend his image to these people,” he said.
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