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KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): A witness told the Sessions Court here on Friday (May 15) that the Minister of Finance recommended an investment of RM150mil by the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) in the unit of Public Mutuality in 2015.
A member of Felcra’s board of directors (ALP), Dr. Habibah Suleiman, 72, said it was Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who was the agency’s non-executive chairman, who informed the board that the investment was recommended by the finance minister.
She said Bung Moktar said this during the Felcra board meeting (series 157) in June 2015.
“I did not know that the amount of the investment requested was RM150 thousand, since the amount approved at the meeting was only RM50 thousand.
“The board asked Bung Moktar about the difference in the amount invested in the Mutual Public Trust Unit and said it had met with the (then) finance minister and had brought in the approval request from Felcra,” he added.
Habibah, who is the fifth prosecution witness, said this during the interrogation of Bung Moktar’s lawyer, M. Athimulan, in the corruption trial involving Kinabatangan’s deputy and his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Ezette A. Samad.
Asked by Athimulan about those present during the June 2015 meeting, Habibah said they included Datuk Mohd Isa Hussain from the finance ministry and Felcra executive director Datuk Ramlee Abu Bakar.
Athimulan: Did I tell you that all ALP members including you (Habibah) were aware of the change in the amount of investment from RM50mil to RM150mil before the 157th board meeting?
Habibah: I didn’t know that before the June meeting.
On the amount of the commission that Public Mutual’s investment agent, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, 42, would receive with Felcra’s investment, Habibah said he did not ask Norhaili about it.
Bung Moktar was accused of receiving a RM2.2mil bribe from Public Mutual investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid, 38, through his wife Zizie Ezette.
He was accused of committing the crime as an incentive to obtain the approval of the then Minister of Finance II for Felcra to invest RM150 thousand in trust products of the Public Mutuality unit.
The crime was allegedly committed at the Taman Melawati branch of Public Bank Berhad at number 262-265, Jalan Bandar 12, Taman Melawati here between 12.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. June 12, 2015.
Bung Moktar was also accused of corruptly receiving RM262,500 in bribes to himself from the same person through account number 044797816 of the Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund (PITGF) which was registered under the name of Zizie Ezette with the same purpose.
On another charge, Bung Moktar was accused of corruptly obtaining a bribe of RM337,500 from investment agent Mutual Pública Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, 42, through account 044797824 of Public Ittikal Sequel Fund, registered under the name of Zizie Ezette. for the same purpose.
Both crimes were allegedly committed at the same location at 12.16 p.m. and at 12.28 p.m., respectively, on June 19, 2015.
All the charges were framed in Subsection 17 (a) of the MACC Law and, if found guilty, responsible for the sentence under Section 24 (1) of the same law, which establishes a prison sentence of no over 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is greater.
Zizie Ezette also pleaded not guilty to three charges of inciting her husband for the same matter in the same place, date, and time.
The charges were made under Section 28 (1) (c) of the MACC Act and he faces a prison sentence of not more than 20 years, and a fine of not less than five times the bribe, or RM10,000, which be older if found guilty
The hearing before judge Rozina Ayob continues on August 10 – Bernama
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