Kuala lumpur: Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin informed the Sessions Court that he did not file a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the police concerning the RM2.8 million received by his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, as the issue is already under MACC investigation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Kinabatangan MP disagreed with deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How's suggestion that his decision not to file a report could significantly impact him. Bung Moktar, serving as the first defense witness, also dismissed the prosecution's assertion that filing a report could exonerate him.
'No, Your Honour, because we were being investigated under the MACC Act,' stated Bung Moktar, 65, during the defense trial concerning the three corruption charges amounting to RM2.8 million against him and Zizie Izette.
When queried by Law about whether he knew if his wife had returned the RM2.8 million to Public Mutual investment agent Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar or Felcra Berhad, the Sabah BN chairman expressed uncertainty. Bung Moktar also concurred with the prosecution that he did not instruct his wife to return the funds, as the matter remains under investigation.
Additionally, Bung Moktar testified that he was unaware of Zizie Izette receiving RM2.8 million from Norhaili. During cross-examination, Law asked if Bung Moktar had discovered the transaction during the MACC investigation and whether he was angered by it. Bung Moktar responded that he was genuinely unaware of the situation and was shocked and surprised by the developments.
On May 3, 2019, Bung Moktar, then non-executive chairman of Felcra Berhad, faced charges of accepting RM2.2 million and RM262,500 in bribes to facilitate Felcra's RM150 million investment in Public Mutual unit trusts. The alleged bribes, received through his wife, were reportedly obtained from Public Mutual investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid at a Public Bank Berhad branch in Taman Melawati on June 12 and 19, 2015.
Bung Moktar additionally faces a charge of illicitly acquiring RM337,500 from another Public Mutual investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, through the Public Ittikal Sequel Fund (PITSEQ) account in Zizie Izette's name for the same objective. These charges fall under Subsection 17(a) of the MACC 2009 Act, which prescribes a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine of not less than five times the bribe's value or RM10,000, whichever is greater, upon conviction.
Zizie Izette is charged with three counts of abetting her husband in connection to the same transactions, under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act, carrying similar penalties if convicted. The trial continues before Judge Rosli Ahmad.