The corruption case of Bung Moktar, Zizie Izette is set for March 27
Couple files appeal against previous dismissal of applications to review sessions court decision
KUALA LUMPUR: The defense proceedings of Kinabatangan Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad on three charges of corruption in the Sessions Court are set for mention on March 27 following their appeal in the Court of Appeal.
The couple filed an appeal against the decision of the High Court here which rejected their application to review the decision of the Sessions Court which ordered the two to defend themselves on the three charges.
Lawyer M. Athimulan representing Bung Moktar informed the Sessions Court Judge, Rozina Ayob that the case management of the appeal at the Court of Appeal has been set on March 22 while waiting for the record of the appeal which has not yet been completed.
“In that regard, we request the court to set a date for the re-mention of this case for the parties to inform about the development of the case at the Court of Appeal. We also request that the presence of both clients at the next mention of the case be excluded,” said the lawyer.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Law Chin How confirmed the matter and did not object to the defense’s application for the presence of the two accused to be excluded at the next mention of the case.
Rozina fixed the mention of the case again on March 27 for the parties to inform the Court of Appeal of the development of the case and allow the defense’s request that the presence of the two accused be excluded.
Bung Moktar, 63, who is in a wheelchair due to a broken leg, appeared in court with Zizie Izette, 44.
On 3 Jan last, High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the application of Bung Moktar and his wife to suspend the self-defence trial, while waiting for their appeal to be disposed of in the Court of Appeal.
On 2 Sept 2022, the Sessions Court ordered the couple to defend themselves on three charges of corruption after finding that the prosecution successfully proved a prima facie case against them.
On 3 May 2019, Bung Moktar was charged with two charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
Bung Moktar was accused of accepting bribes from Public Mutual agent, Madhi Abdul Hamid, through Zizie Izette at Public Bank Taman Melawati Branch, here, between 12.30pm and 5pm on 12 June 2015.
He was also charged with receiving a cash bribe of RM337,500 from Unit Amanah consultant, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar under the name of Zizie Izette for the same reason and at the same place on 19 June 2015 while Zizie Izette is facing three charges of abetting her husband in relation to the matter at the same place, date and the same time.
