KUALA LUMPUR: Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has rubbished claims that he and his wife were set to pocket RM2.8mil from Felcra Bhd’s RM150mil in unit trust investment.
Calling it a “malicious assumption”, Bung Moktar insisted he never abused his position as Felcra’s non-executive chairman to push the proposal through for personal gain.
He was making his defence in a graft trial involving the said RM2.8mil. His wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, is accused of abetting him.
During his testimony as the first defence witness at the Sessions Court here yesterday, the politician, who was being cross-examined by deputy public prosecutor Fadly Zamry, disagreed with suggestions that his actions surrounding the investment were outside of his scope of duty as the chairman.
He also denied that it was without the written approval of the board.
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 disagreed with the suggestion that the investment proposal had bypassed due process when it skipped top management on its way to the board.
“I disagree, because Felcra’s finance department was part of the top management,” he said.
“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.”
Bung Moktar 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 is accused of accepting bribes from Public Mutual Bhd’s investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid through Zizie Izette at the Public Bank Taman Melawati Branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
Zizie Izette is charged with 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.
