KUALA LUMPUR: Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin was yesterday charged at the Sessions Court with three counts of receiving bribes totalling RM2.8 million for getting the approval for Felcra Berhad to invest RM150 million in unit trust with Public Mutual Berhad, four years ago.
Bung Moktar, 60, who was clad in a black suit, appeared calm when he pleaded not guilty to all charges read by the court interpreter before Judge Rozina Ayob.
“I plead not guilty and claim trial, Your Honour,” he said when the judge asked him to enter a plea.
On the first count, Bung Moktar, as the then non-executive chairman of Felcra Berhad, was charged with dishonestly receiving gratification for himself, in cash totalling RM2.2 million from Public Mutual Berhad investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid, 38, through his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette A Samad.
He was alleged to have received the bribe as a reward for seeking approval from the Second Finance Minister for Felcra Berhad to make a RM150 million unit trust investment in Public Mutual Berhad.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Taman Melawati branch of Public Bank Berhad at No. 262-265, Jalan Bandar 12, Taman Melawati here between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
On the second count, Bung Moktar was charged with receiving a bribe for himself, in cash totalling RM262,500 from the same agent Madhi through a Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund (PITGF) account number 044797816 which was registered on Zizie’s name, for the same purpose.
On the third count, he was charged with receiving another RM337,500 in cash from another Public Mutual Berhad investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, through a Public Ittikal Sequel Fund (Pitseq) account number 044797824, which was also registered on Zizie’s name, for the same purpose.
Bung Moktar was alleged to have committed the two offences at the same location at 12.16pm and 12.28pm on June 19, 2015.
The charge, under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of the bribe, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Judge Rozina allowed Bung Moktar bail of RM100,000 with one surety and ordered for his passport to be surrendered to the court until disposal of the case.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar prosecuted, while Bung Moktar was represented by lawyer Datuk K Kumaraendran.
Meanwhile, in a separate court, Zizie, 41, pleaded not guilty and also claimed trial to three charges of abetting her husband in receiving the bribes amounting to RM2.8 million from the two agents for the same purpose.
“I claim trial, Your Honour,” she said after the charges were read to her by the court interpreter before Judge Azura Alwi.
Zizie was charged under Section 28(1) of the same Act, which also carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of the bribe, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Judge Azura also allowed Zizie bail of RM100,000 with one local surety. The actress was also represented by Kumaraendran, while Umar Saifuddin appeared for the prosecution.
The judge also transferred Zizie’s case to Sessions Court 8, upon request by Umar Saifuddin, for the case to be jointly tried with her husband’s.
June 10 was set for re-mention. – Bernama
