KUALA LUMPUR: The Court of Appeal today unanimously allowed the prosecution's appeal to reinstate Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad's corruption charges involving RM2.8 million.
Bung Moktar, who was then the non-executive Felcra chairman, is alleged to have accepted bribes of RM2.2 million in cash from Public Mutual's investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid through his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Hamid.
For the second charge, he was accused of accepting bribes of RM262,500 in cash from Madhi for a similar purpose.
Bung Moktar, 64, was also accused of accepting a bribe of RM337,500 in cash from Public Mutual's investment agent Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar on June 19, 2015.
He was accused of committing the first offence at the Public Bank branch in Taman Melawati on June 12, 2015.
The second and third offences were allegedly committed at the same location at 12.16pm and 12.28pm, respectively, on June 19, 2015.
Zizie, 44, pleaded not guilty to three charges of abetting her husband in the matter at the same place, date and time.
The Court of Appeal panel comprised judges Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Mohamed Zaini Mazlan and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin.
Deputy public prosecutors Low Chin How, Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry and Maziah Mohaide appeared for the prosecution, while lawyers M. Athimulan, A. Athimulan, Ridha Abdah Subri, Datuk K. Kumaraendran, Teh See Koon, and Dev Kumar appeared for the couple.
Here is a timeline of the case:
May 3, 2019 - Bung Moktar pleaded not guilty to three charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2.8 million to get approval for Felcra to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trust funds.
Zizie Izette, 45, pleaded not guilty to three charges of abetting her husband in the matter at the same place, date and time.
Sept 2, 2022 - The Sessions Court ordered the couple to enter their defence after deeming that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case against them.
Dec 9, 2022 - High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid dismissed the couple's application for revision of the Sessions Court's decision, prompting them to appeal to the Appellate Court.
July 7, 2023 - The Court of Appeal allowed the couple's appeal and ordered the High Court to re-hear the merits of the couple's appeal.
Sept 7, 2023 – High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid acquitted and discharged the couple after allowing their applications for a revision against the Sessions Court's decision ordering them to enter their defence.
Sept 18, 2024 – The prosecution filed an appeal against the High Court's decision.