Kuala lumpur: The Sessions Court adjourned the defence trial of Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, rescheduling proceedings to September 2. The couple faces three corruption charges, amounting to RM2.8 million.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the delay was granted after lawyer Teh See Khoon, representing Zizie Izette, submitted a request for adjournment due to the absence of lead counsel Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, who is currently unwell and undergoing treatment. Teh, along with lawyer M. Athimulan representing Bung Moktar, sought the postponement which Judge Rosli Ahmad approved. The court also canceled the trial dates initially set for the following two days. Deputy Public Prosecutor Law Chin How raised objections to the request for postponement.

Previously, on May 22, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, unanimously rejected the couple's plea to review the decision mandating their defence on the corruption charges. The panel determined the couple did not present any exceptional circumstances or miscarriages of justice necessitating a review. Last November 18, another Court of Appeal panel overturned a High Court decision that had acquitted the couple, compelling them to enter their defence.

Datuk Seri Bung Moktar, the former non-executive chairman of Felcra Berhad, faces charges from May 3, 2019, of accepting bribes totaling RM2.2 million and RM262,500 to secure Felcra's approval for investing RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts. Allegedly, the bribes were accepted through Zizie Izette from Public Mutual Berhad's investment agent, Madhi Abdul Hamid, at a Public Bank branch in Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, on June 12, 2015. Bung Moktar is also accused of receiving RM337,500 in cash from Unit Amanah consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar under Zizie Izette's name in the same location on June 19, 2015. Zizie Izette faces three charges of abetting her husband in the matter at the same place, date, and time.