Kinabatangan: member of parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin told the Sessions Court today that he did not receive RM2.8 million in bribes, directly or indirectly, from two Public Mutual Berhad investment agents in relation to Felcra Berhad’s RM150 million unit trust investment.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bung Moktar, 65, stated that none of the prosecution witnesses had produced video recordings, photographs, or recorded conversations to prove that he had received any money. He emphasized that there was no evidence of any payment from the two investment agents, prosecution witnesses Madhi Abdul Hamid and Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar. Bung Moktar declared, “I did not receive any money from them,” while reading his witness statement during the defence proceedings in the RM2.8 million corruption trial involving him and his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad.
He further argued that he had never influenced the Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, to secure approval for Felcra Berhad’s RM150 million investment in Public Mutual Berhad’s unit trust products. Bung Moktar testified that the Felcra Board of Directors had followed established procedures in submitting its application to the minister for approval, adding that the minister’s decision was based on multiple factors and due process.
The first defence witness explained that several processes, including due diligence and ministerial reviews, were undertaken before the investment scheme was approved. He noted that various factors were assessed, such as the nature of the investment and the risks involved. The Second Finance Minister approved the scheme following a thorough analysis by the Minister of Finance Incorporated. Bung Moktar asserted that the minister’s decision was a result of careful evaluation of multiple data to ensure fiscal responsibility and alignment with government policy, denying any unofficial communication with the minister regarding the investment application.
In his testimony, Bung Moktar also denied directing or asking Zizie Izette to receive RM2.8 million from Norhaili and Madhi on June 12 and 19, 2015, on his behalf. He stated that he was never informed by his wife or anyone else about receiving the money until he was called to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation around 2016 or 2017.
When questioned by defence counsel M. Athimulan about whether he expedited the Finance Ministry’s approval of Public Mutual Berhad’s investment product, Bung Moktar replied, “Never, Your Honour, because I had no capacity to do so.”
On May 3, 2019, Bung Moktar, who was then the non-executive chairman of Felcra Berhad, was charged with two counts of receiving RM2.2 million and RM262,500 in bribes as inducement to secure approval for Felcra’s RM150 million investment in Public Mutual unit trusts. He was accused of receiving the bribes through his wife, Zizie Izette, at Public Bank Berhad, Taman Melawati branch, on June 12 and 19, 2015.
Bung Moktar also faces a separate charge of obtaining RM337,500 in cash from another Public Mutual investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, through the Public Ittikal Sequel Fund (PITSEQ) account registered under Zizie Izette’s name, for the same purpose. The charges were framed under Subsection 17(a) of the MACC 2009 Act, which stipulates a prison term of up to 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Zizie Izette faces three charges of abetting her husband in connection with the same matters, under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act, carrying a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. The trial before Judge Rosli Ahmad resumes tomorrow.