The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has set Sept 7 to hear an application by Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Zizie Izette Abdul Samad to quash an order for them to enter their defence in an RM2.8 million corruption case.
Judge Azhar Abdul Hamid set the date this morning to hear the criminal review application.
Azhar directed the defence team to file their written submissions by Aug 4 and for the prosecution to file their reply by Aug 18.
Counsel M Athimulan formed part of the legal teams for the couple, while deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How appeared for the prosecution today.
On Sept 2 last year, the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie (answerable) case against Bung and Zizie, and ordered the duo to enter their defence over corruption charges totalling RM2.8 million over unit trust investments.
The couple had then gone up to the High Court to quash the prima facie ruling. However, on Dec 9 last year, Azhar allowed the prosecution's preliminary objections over the duo's mode of filing the application and struck out the revision bid.
However, on July 7, the Court of Appeal allowed the couple’s appeal and ordered the High Court to hear the merits of the criminal revision.
The charges
Back on May 3, 2019, Bung claimed trial to three charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2.8 million to obtain approval for Felcra Berhad to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
According to the first charge, Bung, who was then the non-executive chairperson of Felcra, was accused of accepting bribes of RM2.2 million in cash from Madhi, through Zizie, at Public Bank's Taman Melawati branch in Kuala Lumpur between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
For the second charge, Bung is accused of accepting a bribe of RM262,500 in cash from Madhi through the Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund (PITGF) account number 044797816 registered in the name of Zizie, for a similar purpose.
Bung is also accused of accepting a bribe of RM337,500 in cash from Norhaili through the Public Ittikal Sequel Fund (Pitseq) account number 044797824 registered in Zizie’s name.
The latter two offences were allegedly committed at the same location at 12.16pm and 12.28pm on June 19, 2015.
Zizie was also charged with receiving RM337,500 in cash from Norhaili, under the name of Zizie Izette for the same reason and place on June 19, 2015, while Zizie is facing three charges of abetting her husband over the matter at the same place, date and time.
On May 17 last year, the prosecution closed its case after calling 30 witnesses to testify at the lower court trial that began on Jan 2, 2020.
Among the prosecution witnesses called to testify were former finance minister II Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, former Felcra Investments general manager Adnan Yusof, Felcra board member Habibah Suleiman, MACC assistant superintendent Norsharil Saharom, Public Mutual agent Madhi Abdul Hamid and unit trust consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar. - Mkini
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