Bung Moktar Denies Using Position To Receive RM2.8 Million Over Felcra Berhad's Investment

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin told the Sessions Court here today that he had never used his influence and position to ensure that he and his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, received RM2.8 million following Felcra Berhad's investment in Public Mutual Berhad's Amanah unit.

Bung Moktar, 65, said this when questioned by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Mohamad Fadly Mohd Zamry at the couple's defence trial on three corruption charges totalling RM2.8 million.

Mohamad Fadly had suggested to Bung Moktar that he had used his influence and position as the non-executive chairman of Felcra Berhad to ensure Felcra invested in the trust unit so that he and his wife would receive the RM2.8 million.

Bung Moktar also denied having played an active role in ensuring Felcra Berhad’s investment of RM150 million in Public Mutual Berhad.

The Sabah BN chairman, however, agreed with a suggestion by DPP Law Chin How that he never reported to the Felcra Board of Directors (BOD) regarding the RM2.8 million introduction fee received by his wife.

He said there was no point in making a report because the case was then still under investigation by the MACC.

However, Bung Moktar disagreed with the prosecution’s assertion that all his actions fell outside the scope of his duties and were carried out without the BOD’s written approval.

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 on Sept 24.

-- BERNAMA