Bung Moktar did not ask for RM3.5mil commission over Felcra investment, says witness

KUALA LUMPUR: The Session’s Court here was told that Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin did not ask for RM3.5mil commission from the investment agent to approve the RM150mil investment in Public Mutual unit trust.

Public Mutual Berhad investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid, 43, said matters relating to commission or payment of bribes to Bung Moktar were not discussed in his meeting with the MP for Kinabatangan and several other individuals at Hotel Intercontinental, Jalan Ampang here on May 4, 2015.

The 24th prosecution witness, also a key witness in the case, said this in cross-examination by counsel M. Athimulan who is representing Bung Moktar in the corruption trial of the Kinabatangan MP and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad before Judge Rozina Ayob.

Earlier, during examination-in-chief by the prosecution, Madhi agreed that there were contradictions when he told the court there was no demand for RM3.5mil commission from Bung Moktar when the recording of his conversation with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in 2016 was otherwise.

On Dec 7 last year, the court allowed the prosecution’s application to cross-examine the witness as he was considered a hostile witness following his statement in court which contradicted the conversation recorded when questioned by MACC.

Madhi also agreed with Athimulan’s suggestion that the granting of RM2.2mil commission to Zizie Izette was a normal practice and had been paid to other introducers.

Athimulan: All corporate companies investing in Public Mutual have introducers?

Madhi: Some have, some don't have.

To another question, the witness said the unit trust investment proposal was tabled in Felcra’s board of directors’ meeting.

During a re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How, the witness said he was called several times by MACC to have this statement recorded, and there were questions which he could not answer as he had forgotten or unsure of the answer as well as not being able to think straight at that time.

"I was also confused with the situation as I did not commit any wrong but was called several times to give statements. I felt pressured due to shock as I have never been called by any authorities before,” said Madhi.

In the proceedings on Dec 7 last year, Madhi admitted giving a different version of the statements as he felt pressured when questioned in 2016 while the last conversation recording was almost five years later on Feb 4 2021.

On May 3 2019, Bung Moktar pleaded not guilty on two charges of receiving bribes amounting to RM2.2mil and RM262,500 as gratification to obtain the approval of Felcra to invest RM150mil in Public Mutual unit trust.

Bung Moktar, 64, who was the non-executive chairman of Felcra then, was accused of receiving bribes from Madhi via Zizie Izette at the Public Bank branch in Taman Melawati here between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12 2015.

He also pleaded not guilty to a bribe of RM335,500 from Nohaili under the name of Zizie for the same cause and at the same place on June 19 2015.

Zizie Izette, 44, also pleaded not guilty on three charges of abetting with her husband on the matter at the same place, date and time.

The trial will continue on Jan 26. - Bernama