KUALA LUMPUR: Former actress Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad told the Sessions Court that she was shocked to hear that she would be receiving RM2.8mil in "introductory fees" from two unit trust agents.
She said the money was for introducing the two agents – Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar and Madhi Abdul Hamid – to Felcra Bhd, which then invested RM150mil in a Public Mutual unit trust product.
Zizie Izette's late husband, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, was Felcra's chairman at the material time.
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According to Zizie Izette, Norhaili called her on June 11, 2015 to inform her that the agency was giving her the money as introductory fees.
"I was shocked. I told her (Norhaili) that I did not do anything. But Norhaili said it was a common practice for her agency and her marketing strategy to give an introductory fee as a token of appreciation for helping them in social networking," she said in her witness statement here on Thursday (March 5).
She said she met with Norhaili and Madhi on June 12, 2015 at Public Bank in Taman Melawati here.
"Norhaili told me that they would be paying RM2.2mil in cash. She suggested that the balance of RM600,000 be invested in unit trust since I have an (account with) Public Mutual," she said.
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RM262,500 and RM337,500 were then invested into two Public Mutual funds under Zizie Izette's name, she added.
In her statement, she said she did not tell her husband about the introductory fees.
"We manage our finances separately. He was not involved in my business or my investments. The introductory fees were linked to my personal matters, so I did not think to inform him," she added.
During cross-examination, deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How questioned Zizie Izette on her finances with her husband.
DPP Law: Bung would not interfere in your finances and vice versa.
Zizie Izette: Yes, absolutely.
DPP Law: You prioritise privacy and freedom, that's why you did not share anything on your finances with Datuk Seri.
Zizie Izette: Agreed.
DPP Law: I put it to you that this is complete fiction because husbands and wives share everything.
Zizie Izette: I disagree.
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Zizie Izette is charged with three counts of abetting Bung Moktar, who was then the non-executive chairman of Felcra, in accepting RM2.2mil and RM262,500 from Madhi and a further RM337,500 from Norhaili as inducement for Felcra's approval to invest RM150mil in Public Mutual unit trusts.
The offences were allegedly committed at Public Bank Taman Melawati Branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
The charges under Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 provide for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the bribe's value or RM10,000, whichever is greater, upon conviction.
Bung Moktar, who was the Kinabatangan MP, was given an acquittal from the three corruption charges following his death on Dec 5.
The trial is fixed for submissions before judge Rosli Ahmad on April 24.
