MACC: Enough evidence to charge Bung Moktar and wife

KUALA LUMPUR: There is sufficient evidence to charge Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad with corruption involving RM2.8mil, the Sessions Court here heard.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer (IO) Mohd Haris Ibrahim said he recommended to the prosecution to charge the couple based on documents obtained and witness statements.

He said this during the examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How in the hearing of the case over a Felcra investment in Public Mutual Bhd unit trusts.

The senior MACC officer said based on the investigation findings, he had recommended that Bung Moktar be charged under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act, while his wife be charged with abetting him under Section 28(1) (c) of the same Act.

When asked whether the issue of RM2.8mil had ever been raised as an “introduction fee” to Zizie Izette before the charge was proposed, the last and 27th prosecution witnesses said: “Never.”

DPP Law: When did you hear that the RM2.8mil was an “introduction fee” for Datin Seri Zizie Izette?

Mohd Haris: I heard about the “introduction fee” in February 2021 after being informed by the IO who replaced me in this case, that is senior superintendent Mohd Ihsan.

In an earlier proceeding, trust fund consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar told the court that Zizie Izette deserved to receive an introduction fee as the actress had introduced her husband for Felcra to invest RM150mil in the unit trusts.

Mohd Haris also told the court that Norhaili and an investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid had never been forced or threatened by the MACC when they had their statements recorded. The hearing continues today. — Bernama