Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin obtained court assent for a 13-day release of his passport for a business trip to the Middle East this month.
The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court yesterday morning allowed the application for temporary access to his passport from Nov 10 to 22, following no objections raised by the prosecution.
The lower court is holding on to his passport as part of bail conditions in an ongoing corruption trial involving the veteran Sabah politician and his wife Zizie Izette A Samad.
Contacted by Malaysiakini, Bung’s counsel Teh See Khoon confirmed that judge Rozina Ayob approved the bid for a temporary release of the passport.
“Allowed. From Nov 10 to 22,” the lawyer said, adding that the lower court allowed the bid following no objections raised by the prosecution.
Teh also confirmed that the reason cited for the temporary passport release was for a “business trip” to the Middle East.
According to cause papers sighted by Malaysiakini, the notice of application was filed on Nov 2 by Bung’s lawyers from Messrs Kumar & Co.
Recently, separate courts have also greenlit temporary passport releases for four other prominent accused persons still undergoing trial for various criminal offences.
They are former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Bung is on trial before the Sessions Court on three charges, with one charge stating he took an RM2.2 million bribe from Public Mutual investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid through Zizie.
He was accused of committing the offence as an inducement to obtain the approval of finance minister II for Felcra to invest RM150 million in the Public Mutual unit trust.
Bung is alleged to have committed the offence at Public Bank’s Taman Melawati branch at Jalan Bandar 12, Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
In relation to the second charge, Bung is accused of receiving RM262,500 in bribes from Madhi, through Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund account number 044797816 registered under Zizie’s name.
Bung is also facing a third charge of obtaining an RM337,500 bribe from Public Mutual investment agent Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar via Public Ittikal Sequel Fund account number 044797824, also registered under Zizie’s name.
Both offences were allegedly perpetrated at the same location at 12.16pm and 12.28pm on June 19, 2015.
The three charges are framed under Sub-section 17(a) of the MACC Act and Section 24(1) of the Act, which specifies penalties of a jail term of up to 20 years, and a fine of at least five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Zizie is also on trial over three counts of abetting Bung in committing the offences. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.