ANOTHER high-profile case looms as Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad will know their fate today in the couple’s RM2.8 mil corruption and abetment case involving an investment by Government-owned rural developer FELCRA Bhd.
According to news reports, Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob is slated to deliver her decision – to either acquit the Sabah deputy chief minister I and his actress wife or order them to enter their defence – at 3pm.
If the court decides that the prosecution has not proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, then the duo will be freed from their charges.
However, if the court deems that the prosecution has made a prima facie case, then the UMNO lawmaker and Zizie must enter their defence.
In May 2019, Bung, who was formerly FELCRA’s non-executive director, claimed trial for three charges under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
In the first charge, Bung was accused of taking a bribe of RM2.2 mil in cash from a purported Public Mutual Bank Bhd investment agent, through Bung’s wife, between 12.30pm to 5pm on June 12, 2015.
In the second charge, Bung was accused of taking an RM262,500 bribe from the same person at 12.16pm on June 19, 2015, through a unit trust account registered under his wife’s name.
The third charge is over Bung’s alleged acceptance of an RM337,500 bribe, also on June 19, 2015, at 12.28pm from another Public Bank investment agent via an account registered under his wife’s name as well.
According to the Malay Mail, all three bribes were alleged rewards for Bung for obtaining approval from the then second finance minister for FELCRA to make a RM150 mil investment in Public Mutual Bank’s investment trust products.
Zizie, on the other hand, was charged with three counts of allegedly abetting her husband in the bribery offences.
The trial took place from Jan 2, 2020 to May 17, 2022, with 30 prosecution witnesses taking to the stand and 131 exhibits tendered in court.
The prosecution maintains that there were “irresistible circumstantial evidence” that pointed to Bung and Zizie committed the offences they have been charged for, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
However, Bung and Zizie’s lawyers have denied this. – Sept 2, 2022
Main pic credit: The Star
