Bung's lawyer unwell, prosecution's appeal deferred

The prosecution’s appeal to quash Bung Moktar Radin and his wife’s acquittal in a corruption case has been postponed as the Kinabatangan MP’s lawyer is unwell.

A three-person Court of Appeal bench chaired by judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim today rescheduled to Oct 9 the prosecutor’s appeal linked to a RM2.8 million corruption case against Bung and Zizie Izette Abdul Samad.

When met by the media after proceedings, Zizie’s lawyer K Kumaraendran said that Bung’s counsel M Athimulan was having heart-related issues.

On Sept 7 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Bung and Zizie’s bid to quash a ruling for the duo to enter their defence in the graft case linked to unit trust investments.

The charges

Bung was facing three charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2.8 million to obtain approval for Felcra Bhd to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.

According to the first charge, Bung, who was then-Felcra non-executive chairperson, was accused of accepting bribes of RM2.2 million in cash from Public Mutual agent Madhi Abdul Hamid, via Zizie.

The offence allegedly took place at the Public Bank 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 account number 044797816 registered in Zizie’s name, for a similar purpose.

The Sabah Umno chief is also accused of accepting a bribe of RM337,500 in cash from unit trust consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, through the Public Ittikal Sequel Fund account number 044797824 registered in Zizie’s name.

The latter two offences were allegedly committed at the same location between 12.16pm and 12.28pm on June 19, 2015.

Zizie faced three charges of abetting her husband over the matter at the same place, date, and time.

She was also charged with receiving RM337,500 in cash from Norhaili for the same reason and place on June 19, 2015.

The couple was first charged in 2019, and the Sessions Court ordered the duo to enter their defence.

However, last year the High Court ruled the lower court had erred and granted the couple a full acquittal.

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