DATUK Seri Bung Moktar Radin told the Sessions Court on Tuesday that he was unaware of RM2.8 million allegedly deposited into the account of his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette A Samad, and denied accepting any bribe, directly or indirectly, tied to Felcra Berhad’s RM150 million investment in Public Mutual Berhad.
Testifying on the first day of his defence before Judge Rosli Ahmad, the Kinabatangan MP and UMNO Supreme Council member said no evidence had been produced to show he had requested or received any inducement from investment agents Madhi Abdul Hamid and Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar.
“There is no video, no photographs, and no recorded conversations of me receiving any money from the two prosecution witnesses,” said Bung. “I did not receive the money directly or indirectly, and there is no evidence showing any flow of funds to me.”
When asked by his lawyer Ridha Abdah Subri whether he knew Zizie Izette had received RM2.8 million from the agents in June 2015, he replied, “I did not know.”
He further denied ever instructing his wife to accept any funds on his behalf, stating, “I never did, because I had no knowledge of it whatsoever.”
Bung explained that he was only made aware of the matter when he was contacted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for questioning in 2016 or 2017. He also said he had no knowledge of his wife’s finances prior to his appointment as Felcra’s Non-Executive Chairman.
“It has always been the understanding between me and my wives since we got married — their money is theirs, and I do not interfere,” he told the court.
Bung also maintained that the decision for Felcra to invest in Public Mutual unit trusts in 2015 was made through proper channels, based on merit, due diligence, and the required procedures.
He said the investment was approved by then Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah following detailed analysis by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc).
“All official correspondence to ministers, including the Second Finance Minister, would customarily be signed by the Felcra Chairman,” Bung noted.
He added that the Felcra Board of Directors had not violated any procedures in submitting its investment proposal and that the approval process did not rest solely on the board’s recommendations.
Bung also revealed that in April 2015, Felcra received feedback from MoF Inc stating that there were no objections to the investment, subject to continuous monitoring by Felcra management to ensure early mitigation if market conditions deteriorated.
On 3 May 2019, Bung was charged with three counts of corruption. He allegedly received RM2.2 million and RM262,500 in cash through his wife and her Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund account, in exchange for securing approval for the investment.
The alleged transactions took place at Public Bank, Taman Melawati, between 12.30pm and 5.00pm on 12 June 2015 and again on 19 June of the same year.
The third charge involves an additional RM337,500 allegedly received in cash via Norhaili, also under Zizie Izette’s name, on the same date and location.
All charges were brought under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of no less than five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is greater.
Zizie Izette is also facing three charges of abetment in connection with the case.
Bung is represented by Ridha Abdah Subri and M. Athimulan, while Zizie Izette is represented by Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran.
The trial continues on Wednesday and is scheduled to run until 4 September, and again from 24 to 26 September 2025. - Sept 2, 2025
