KUALA LUMPUR: Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has dismissed allegations that he and his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, were set to receive a RM2.8mil payout from Felcra Bhd’s RM150mil unit trust investment.
Describing the accusation as a "malicious assumption," Bung asserted that he never abused his position as Felcra’s non-executive chairman for personal gain.
Bung took the stand as the first defence witness in his graft trial involving RM2.8mil at the Sessions Court here on Thursday (Sept 4). His wife, Zizie Izette, is accused of abetting him.
During cross-examination by deputy public prosecutor Fadly Zamry, Bung disagreed with suggestions that his actions related to the investment were beyond his scope of duty as chairman and lacked the board's written approval.
DPP Fadly: All the actions you took were to safeguard your and your wife’s interests?
Bung Moktar: I disagree.
DPP Fadly: All your actions clearly show that you knew and were aware that rewards would be obtained if this matter (the investment) succeeded?
Bung Moktar: Not true. That is a very malicious assumption.
DPP Fadly: I put it to you, you used your influence and position as Felcra Bhd’s non-executive chairman to ensure this matter went through so that the RM2.8mil would be received by your wife and you as well?
Bung Moktar: I disagree.
He also refuted the suggestion that the investment proposal bypassed due process, explaining that Felcra’s finance department was part of the top management.
"The board had the authority to decide on any proposal channelled through the management. That’s why it approved the investment even though it was first discussed at the finance level," he explained.
Bung Moktar, then Felcra's non-executive chairman, was charged on May 3, 2019, with two counts of accepting bribes of RM2.2mil and RM262,500 as inducement for Felcra's approval to invest RM150mil in Public Mutual unit trusts.
He allegedly accepted bribes from Public Mutual Bhd’s investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid through Zizie Izette at Public Bank Taman Melawati Branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
Zizie Izette faces three counts of abetting her husband over the matter at the same place, date, and time.
The trial before Judge Rosli Ahmad resumes on Sept 24.
