Bung Moktar Never Informed By Wife About Introduction Fee Over Felcra's Investment - Court Told

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin told the Sessions Court here today that his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, never informed him about the 'introduction fee' she received from two Public Mutual investment agents in relation to Felcra's investment in the unit trust.

Bung Moktar, 65, who is the first defence witness, said this when cross-examined by lawyer Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, representing Zizie Izette, at the couple's defence trial on three corruption charges totalling RM2.8 million.

He said he only knew about it when he was called by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

On Jan 27, 2022, during the trial at the prosecution stage, one of the Public Mutual investment agents,  Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar Norhaili, told the court that Zizie Izettee was eligible to receive the introduction fee as the actress introduced her husband to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.

In today's proceedings, the Sabah BN Chairman also told the court that his wife never consulted him or asked for his advice regarding the investment she wanted to make.

Bung Moktar also agreed with Kumaraendran’s suggestion that Zizie Izette never told him about her income and that his wife did not need to use her money for family expenses.

In response to another question from Kumaraendran regarding Zizie's involvement, particularly in obtaining approval from Felcra Berhad or the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MKD) for the RM150 million investment in the unit trust, Bung Moktar confirmed that she was not involved.

He also agreed with the lawyer’s assertion that Zizie Izette did not conspire with him to receive any money, nor was she involved in any official Felcra matters.

Bung Moktar, who was then the non-executive chairman of Felcra, was charged on May 3, 2019, with two charges of accepting bribes of RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to obtain Felcra approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.

He was alleged to have accepted the bribes from Public Mutual Berhad investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid Madhi through Zizie Izette at Public Bank Taman Melawati Branch here between 12.30 pm and 5 pm on June 12, 2015.

Bung Moktar 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 Izette was charged with three charges of abetting her husband over the matter at the same place, date and time.

The hearing before Judge Rosli Ahmad continues.

-- BERNAMA