BARISAN Nasional MP Bung Moktar Radin today claimed trial to three counts of corruption, for allegedly receiving RM2.8 million in bribes in June 2015 when he was director of rural development agency Felcra.

His wife, Zizie Ezette A. Samad, was charged in a separate court for abetting him on the three charges.

Bung Moktar is accused of receiving the money in exchange for obtaining Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in a Public Mutual Bhd unit trust product.

The Kinabatangan lawmaker was charged  at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which is punishable under Section 21(4) of the same act. 

Justice Rozina Ayob granted a RM100,000 bail with one surety, and ordered him to surrender his passport.

The Umno man was summoned by anti-graft officers in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday, while his actress wife was questioned in Kuala Lumpur.

If convicted, Bung Moktar faces a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the amount of the bribes.

For the first charge, he is accused of acting as an agent of Felcra in his capacity as a non-executive chairman to receive, through Zizie Ezette, RM2.2 million from Public Mutual officer Madhi Abdul Hamid on June 12, 2015.

For the second charge, he is accused of receiving RM262,500 from Madhi through a Public Islamic Treasures Growth Fund under his wife’s name on June 19, 2015.

Prosecutors said this was an inducement to obtain approval from the second finance minister, who was not named, for Felcra to invest RM150 million in a Public Mutual unit trust product.

For the third charge, Bung Moktar is accused of receiving RM337,500, via Public Ittikal Sequal Fund under his wife’s name, from another Public Mutual agent on June 15, 2015.

Zizie Ezette, who was dressed in a black suit and tudung, claimed trial to the three charges of abetting her husband.

Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi set bail at RM100,000 with one surety, and ordered that her passport be surrendered.

Azura also approved an application to transfer Zizie Ezette’s case to be jointly tried with Bung Moktar’s.

Lawyer K. Kumarendran represented the couple, who left the court together without speaking to the press.

The cases have been set for mention on June 10. – May 3, 2019.