D-Day tomorrow on prosecution's appeal in Bung, wife's graft case

The Court of Appeal will deliver its decision tomorrow on the prosecution’s appeal against the acquittal of Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Zizie Izette Abdul Samad from three corruption charges amounting to RM2.8 million.

The decision is expected to be announced by a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal consisting of Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan and Noorin Badaruddin at 9am.

If the decision favours the prosecution, the case will be sent back to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for the couple to defend themselves against the charges and if the panel rules otherwise, the couple will remain acquitted.

On Sept 18, 2023, the prosecution filed an appeal against the decision of High Court judge Azhar Abdul Hamid on Sept 7, 2023, which acquitted the couple of the charges.

The High Court made the decision after allowing the application by Bung, 65, and Zizie Izette, 46, to review the Sessions Court’s ruling on Sept 2, 2022, which ordered them to defend themselves against the charges.

According to the first charge, Bung, then-non-executive chairperson of Felcra Berhad, was accused of corruptly obtaining a bribe of RM2.2 million from Public Mutual Berhad investment agent, Madhi Abdul Hamid, through Zizie.

He was alleged to have committed the act as an inducement to secure approval from the then-finance minister II for Felcra to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual’s unit trust products.

The offence was allegedly committed at Public Bank Berhad, Taman Melawati Branch, No. 262-265, Jalan Bandar 12, Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur between 12.30pm and 5pm, on June 12, 2015.

Second charge

For the second charge, Bung was accused of corruptly obtaining a bribe of RM262,500 from the same individual, Madhi, through a Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund (PITGF) account registered under Zizie’s name for the same purpose.

Bung was also accused of corruptly obtaining a bribe of RM337,500 from Public Mutual Berhad investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, through a Public Ittikal Sequel Fund (PITSEQ) account registered under Zizie’s name for the same purpose.

Both offences were allegedly committed at the same location at 12.16pm and 12.28pm on June 19, 2015.

The charges were framed under Subsection 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (MACC Act) and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides for a prison term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Zizie, an actress, pleaded not guilty to three charges of abetting her husband in connection with the same matters at the same places, dates, and times, under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act and punishable under Subsection 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

- Bernama

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