Bung-Zizie graft trial postponed due to Covid-19

The corruption trial of Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin and his wife, Zizie A Samad, which was originally fixed for today and tomorrow, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 situation in Sabah.

Deputy public prosecutor Abdul Rashid Sulaiman, from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), told the media that Bung, 60, who is now Sabah deputy chief minister and his wife, who is an actress, are under quarantine in Sabah.

The court has fixed Dec 21 to 24 to hear the case, he told reporters after case management before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob today.

Also present were lawyers Ridha Abdah Subri, representing Bung, and Eh See Khoon and Arwinder Kaur, representing Zizie, 41.

On Jan 2 this year, Bung maintained his plea of not guilty to three charges of corruption.

On the first charge, Bung who was non-executive chairman of Felcra at the time, was accused of taking a bribe of RM2.2 million Public Mutual investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid, 38, through his wife.

He was accused of committing the offence as an inducement to obtain approval from the second finance minister for Felcra to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trust products.

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

On the second charge, he was alleged to have received RM262,500 in bribes for himself from the same individual, Madhi, through Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund account number 044797816 registered under Zizie’s name for the same purpose.

On the third charge, Bung was accused of obtaining a RM337,500 bribe from Public Mutual investment agent Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, 42, through Public Ittikal Sequel Fund account number 044797824 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.

All three charges were made under Subsection 17(a) of the MACC Act, punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same act which provides for a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

Zizie pleaded not guilty to three charges of abetting her husband in the same matter at the same place, date and time under Section 28 (1)(c) of the MACC Act, punishable under Subsection 24 (1) of the same act.

She faces prison of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.