KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 24): Politician Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin dismissed suggestions in court on Wednesday that an investment agent had negotiated down an alleged “introduction fee” tied to Felcra Bhd’s RM150 million unit trust investment, from RM3 million to RM2.8 million.

Taking the stand in his own defence in his corruption trial, the Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan repeatedly rejected deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How’s assertion during cross-examination that the payout was discussed, reduced, or directed through his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad.

Law: I put it to Datuk Seri [Bung Moktar Radin] that at the time, [investment agent Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar] asked Datin Seri Zizie [Izette Abdul Samad] to reduce the amount from RM3 million to RM2.8 million, but Zizie told Norhaili to tell Datuk Seri himself?

Bung Moktar: I do not agree, that is not true...that is a malicious assumption.

Law: Norhaili informed Datuk Seri that he had to bear other costs, so he could only give RM2.8 million.

Bung Moktar, who is facing three charges of receiving bribes, vehemently denied the prosecutor’s claims.

The introduction fee was allegedly given by Public Mutual agents Norhaili and Madhi Abdul Hamid to Bung Moktar in return for the lawmaker’s help in approving Felcra’s RM150 million investment in Public Mutual funds.

Bung Moktar is accused of receiving three payments of RM2.2 million, RM262,500, and RM337,500 (the last under Zizie’s name) on June 19, 2015. Zizie is charged with abetting him in all three instances.

Law also suggested that Bung Moktar had instructed Zizie to handle the money, which the politician denied. Law further asserted that Norhaili and Madhi had received RM5.6 million in commission from Public Mutual for securing the deal, and that Bung Moktar had taken half of it under the pretext of an introduction fee.

Bung Moktar, however, maintained that the introduction fee was strictly between his wife and Norhaili.

“I had no business in that,” he said.

Bung Moktar’s counsel Ridha Abdah Subri objected to the line of questioning, stating that it was never raised in oral evidence during the prosecution stage.

Bung Moktar, 66, was charged in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on May 3, 2019 with two counts of accepting bribes of RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as inducement for obtaining Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.

He is accused of receiving the bribes from Madhi through Zizie, 46, at Public Bank's Taman Melawati branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.

In addition, he is also accused of receiving a bribe of RM337,500 from  Norhaili through the Public Ittikal Sequel Fund account registered in Zizie’s name, for the same purpose.

The charges were brought under subsection 17(a) of the MACC Act and are punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe, upon conviction.

Zizie also faces three charges of abetting her husband under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act, which carries the same penalty if convicted.

The trial before Judge Rosli Ahmad will continue on Sept 26.