Bung Moktar, wife's RM2.8m corruption trial postponed to Sept 2 as lead counsel unwell
Judge Rosli Ahmad decided this after allowing an application by lawyer Teh See Khoon, representing Zizie Izette, for the hearing, which had been set for today, to be postponed due to the absence of lead counsel Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran.
'Datuk Kumaraendran is unwell… and he is still undergoing treatment,' said Teh, who is handling the case with lawyer M. Athimulan, representing Bung Moktar.
The court also vacated the trial dates, which had been set for tomorrow and Wednesday (Aug 20).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Law Chin How, however, objected to the application.
Last May 22, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, unanimously dismissed the couple's application for leave to review the decision ordering them to enter their defence on the corruption charges.
Justice Che Mohd Ruzima, who sat with Court of Appeal judges Datuk Azizul Azmi Adnan and Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid, said the couple failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances or a miscarriage of justice that would justify a review of the ruling.
On Nov 18 last year, a Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim allowed the prosecution's appeal and overturned the High Court's decision to acquit Bung Moktar and Zizie Izette, ordering both to enter their defence.
Bung Moktar, 65, who was then the non-executive chairman of Felcra Berhad, was charged on May 3, 2019, with two charges of accepting bribes of RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to obtain Felcra's approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
He was alleged to have accepted the bribes from Public Mutual Berhad's investment agent Madhi Abdul Hamid through Zizie Izette, 46, at Public Bank Taman Melawati Branch, Kuala Lumpur, between 12.30 pm and 5 pm on June 12, 2015.
Bung Moktar was also charged with receiving RM337,500 in cash from Unit Amanah consultant, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, under the name of Zizie Izette for the same reason and place on June 19, 2015, while Zizie Izette was charged with three counts of abetting her husband over the matter at the same place, date and time. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Defamation case: Caprice ordered to ‘archive' 31 posts
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has ordered rapper Caprice to archive 31 allegedly defamatory Instagram posts targeting entrepreneur Muhammad Asyraf Khalid. Judge Datuk Anand Ponnudurai granted an ex-parte ad-interim injunction following a suit filed by Muhammad Asyraf, stepson of Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin. Lawyer Abdul Hakeem Aiman confirmed the posts must be archived immediately until the inter-parte injunction hearing on September 2. Caprice, whose real name is Ariz Ramli, has yet to file a defence statement in response to the lawsuit. Muhammad Asyraf initiated the suit on August 4, citing defamatory posts published between July 30 and August 2. The posts allegedly portrayed Muhammad Asyraf negatively for hosting Murad Zaidi, his personal trainer, on a podcast. 'I invited Murad to discuss gym management challenges and clarify his Instagram statements denying allegations,' said Muhammad Asyraf. The posts also insinuated that Muhammad Asyraf misused family influence as the son of Datuk Seri Khalid Mohammad Jiwa. Despite not airing the full podcast episode, Caprice continued attacking Muhammad Asyraf publicly. The lawsuit claims Caprice's actions led to public backlash and tarnished Muhammad Asyraf's reputation. Muhammad Asyraf seeks an injunction to prevent further defamatory posts and demands their removal within 24 hours. He also requests a public video apology from Caprice across all social media platforms. The plaintiff is seeking general damages, aggravated damages, and legal costs. The case will proceed with an inter-parte hearing on September 2. - Bernama
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Fisherman fined RM10,000 for bribing maritime officer
ALOR STAR: A fisherman was fined RM10,000 by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to an alternative charge of attempting to bribe a senior officer from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). Jamri Abdul Razak, 28, made the guilty plea before Judge N, Priscilla Hemalini, today. He settled the fine immediately. According to the facts of the case, Jamri had offered RM5,000 in cash to a senior assistant director from the agency on June 22, 2022. The bribe was intended as an inducement for the officer to release seven undocumented migrants who had been detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering and remaining in Malaysia without valid passes or permits. The offence was committed at the Kedah/Perlis MMEA office in Langkawi. The offence falls under Section 214 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine or both, if convicted. The prosecution was handled by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Mohd Zulfadli Azharudin, while the accused was unrepresented. The court also ordered the RM5,000 in bribe money to be forfeited to the government through the MACC.
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
S'porean gets 72 years, 24 strokes for murdering wife, stepson
Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy being led from the Melaka High Court. PETALING JAYA : A Singaporean man has been sentenced to 72 years in prison and 24 strokes of the rotan by the Melaka High Court for murdering his wife and stepson, whose dismembered remains were found in bushes six years ago. Justice Anselm Charles Fernandis ordered Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy, 36, to serve 36 years' in jail and 12 strokes of the rotan for each charge, with the sentences running consecutively from his arrest on Oct 11, 2019. He said Shahrul's actions were cruel, noting that he had placed his wife's severed head in the ceiling of their home in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime and the victims' identities. 'The court has considered the concept of life for life, as well as the emotions of the victims' family members. 'However, it must also look at the case as a whole and the wider public interest,' Bernama quoted him as saying. Anselm said he had taken into account the defence's submissions, the prosecution's points, and statements from the victims' family, who spoke of trauma, health issues and the surviving children's hardship without their mother. Shahrul was charged with killing his wife, Norfazera Bidin, 27, and her son, Iman Ashraf Abdullah, 11, at their home in Taman Merdeka Jaya, Batu Berendam, between 6pm on Oct 6 and 7.30am on Oct 7, 2019. The charges under Section 302 of the Penal Code carry the death penalty or a maximum of 40 years' jail, with whipping of at least 12 strokes if the death sentence is not imposed. Earlier, Norfazera's mother and sister urged the court to impose a commensurate sentence, including the death penalty, while deputy public prosecutors Asri Abd Rahman Sidik and Nur Syazwanie Marizan pressed for either the death sentence or consecutive prison terms. Asri and Syazwanie said the accused was supposed to protect the victims but killed them instead. The court must balance public interest with the severity of the cruelty committed, they contended. The prosecution also said that Shahrul initially misled the victims' family about their whereabouts and fled to Singapore before surrendering. Defence lawyers Andrew Lourdes and Chua Yong Yi pleaded for leniency, saying their client regretted his actions and deserved a second chance.
