The prosecution in the corruption case against Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Bung Moktar Radin and wife Zizie Izette has filed a notice of motion to transfer the case to the High Court.

MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai will also apply for the two cases involving Bung Moktar, whose real name is Moktar Radin, and Zizie Izette to be tried together.

Allan Suman informed this during a re-mention of the case in the presence of Sessions Court Judge Rozina Ayob today

Bung Moktar and Zizie Izette have been charged with corruption involving RM2.8 million to obtain approval for Felcra Bhd to make a RM150 million investment in Public Mutual's unit trust products.

“The prosecution filed the notice of motion on June 18 for an application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court,” Allan Suman said

Counsel Datuk K.Kumaraendran who represented Bung Moktar, 60, and Zizie Izette ,41, did not protest the application.

“However, the application will be made in the High Court,” Allan Suman said, adding that the prosecution will submit all documents relating to the two cases under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code to the defence team.

Kumaraendran confirmed the matter and the court fixed August 5 for a re-mention of the case to determine the status of the application by the prosecution.

Meanwhile, High Court Deputy Registrar Mahyudin Mohmad Som fixed Aug 9, for the hearing on the application to transfer Bung Moktar and his wife’s corruption cases to the High Court.

Allan Suman told the media later that he noted the matter when met after the case management today.

“The prosecution will write a letter to the Sessions Court to move the date from Aug 5 to Aug 9, as the High Court had set Aug 9 for the hearing of the application (to transfer the case to the High Court) and the prosecution and the defence want the same date for the Sessions Court,” he said.

On May 3, Bung Moktar pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court on three counts of receiving RM2.8 million in bribes for obtaining approval for Felcra to make a RM150 million investment in Public Mutual's unit trust products.

According to the first charge, Bung Moktar (centre in photo), then Felcra non-executive chairman, was accused of taking a bribe of RM2.2 million in cash from Public Mutual's investment agent, Madhi Abdul Hamid, 38, through the former's wife Zizie Izette.

He was accused of committing the act as a reward for obtaining approval from the Minister of Finance II for Felcra to make an RM150 million investment in Public Mutual unit trust products.

The offence was allegedly committed at Public Bank Bhd, Taman Melawati Branch, No. 262-265, Jalan Bandar 12, Taman Melawati here, between 12.30pm and 5pm, on June 12, 2015.

For the second charge, Bung Moktar was accused of taking for himself a bribe of RM262,500 in cash from the same individual, Madhi, through an account of the bank’s investment product Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund (PITGF) numbered 044797816 and registered under the name of Zizie Izette for the same purpose.

Bung Moktar was also accused of taking for himself a bribe of RM337,500 from Public Mutual's investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, 42, through a Public Ittikal Sequel Fund (Pitseq) account numbered 044797824 registered under the name of Zizie Izette for the same purpose.

Both offences were allegedly committed at the same location at 12.16pm and 12.28pm, on June 19, 2015.

The prosecution is filed in accordance with Subsection 17(a) of the MACC Act and punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act which provides for imprisonment of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Zizie Izette, a former actress, pleaded not guilty to three counts of abetting her husband on the same offences, at the same place, date and time under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act and punishable under subsection 24(1) which provides for imprisonment of not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. 

- Bernama