[UPDATED] Bung Moktar, wife fail in final bid to challenge corruption charges [WATCH]
This is after a three-judge Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali unanimously dismissed the couple's leave application to review the decision today.
The court said the appellants failed to meet the threshold of proving any exceptional circumstances or miscarriage of justice that would warrant a review of the earlier decision.
On Nov 18 last year, the Court of Appeal ordered Bung Moktar and Zizie Izette to enter their defence on three corruption charges after allowing the prosecution's appeal against the couple's acquittal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Sept 7, 2023.
On Sept 2, 2022, Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob ruled that a prima facie case had been established against the accused at the close of the prosecution's case and ordered them to enter their defence on all three charges.
On May 3, 2019, the Kinabatangan member of Parliament was charged with two counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to secure Felcra's approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
He was alleged to have accepted the bribes from Madhi, an investment agent with Public Mutual Bhd, through Zizie Izette at Public Bank's Taman Melawati branch here between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
Zizie Izette was charged with three counts of abetting her husband at the same location, date, and time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Manager loses over RM260k in WhatsApp stock scam
JOHOR BARU: A company manager lost RM262,669, supposedly after falling victim to an online stock investment scam conducted through WhatsApp. Seri Alam police chief Supt Mohd Sohaimi Ishak said the police received a report on the incident yesterday after the 39-year-old victim realised he had been cheated. 'The victim said the incident began last April when he came across a stock investment advertisement on WhatsApp that promised lucrative returns within a short period,' he said in a statement, Bernama reported. 'The victim made 16 transactions into two different bank accounts between April 25 and July 4, amounting to a total of RM262,669.' He said the victim was later asked to make an additional payment purportedly for the withdrawal of investment profits, but no returns were received. He added that the victim realised he had been scammed after his efforts to recover the investment money failed. 'Initial investigations using the Semak Mule platform by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) found that one of the bank accounts used in the transactions had a prior police report linked to an investment fraud case,' he said. The police will also carry out additional investigations into the use of mule accounts and take appropriate action against the involved account holders. Supt Mohd Sohaimi urged the public to exercise caution with investment schemes that promise high returns in a short time and to verify the legitimacy of companies through the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Semak Mule portal before making any transactions. The public is also warned against sharing personal or banking information with unknown parties and to stay informed about commercial crime tactics via CCID's social media channels.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Cost relief ‘tribute' likely
BUTTERWORTH: The Prime Minister has hinted at an important announcement, described as an 'extraordinary tribute' to Malaysians, which will be made either tomorrow or on Tuesday. It is expected to address efforts to ease the rising cost of living. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Finance Ministry is currently refining proposals that can be announced immediately to ease the burden on the people and address current issues. Anwar said that more time is needed to enhance the 'surprise' before the big reveal. 'I need a little more time to make the announcement, to allow my team under the Finance Ministry to prepare the 'surprise' in greater detail to ensure it is comprehensive. 'If not Monday, Tuesday ... give me two or three more days to refine it.' The Prime Minister said the government is looking for the best approach to balance the rising cost of living with the country's fiscal capacity, given that existing expenditure on assistance such as the Rahmah Cash Contribution and civil servant salary increases has reached billions of ringgit. 'We want to increase salaries and allowances for public servants by RM10bil this year and next year by an additional RM18bil. 'We want to do the same with the STR by RM13bil, making it RM23bil. 'Every day at the Finance Ministry, we are working hard to find an approach that can be announced soon, especially to address the cost of living,' he said when launching the Bumiputra Master Plan, the Tunas Madani programme and the JKPSB housing project yesterday. Anwar announced via social media earlier this week that he would make an important announcement as a gesture of appreciation for Malaysians. At the same event, the Prime Minister said that eight newly appointed Court of Appeal judges and 14 High Court judges are scheduled to be sworn in on July 28. He said the appointment process had gone through all the necessary stages, including the assessment by the Judicial Appointments Commission, discussions with the Malay Rulers, and the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 'Many have asked me why it was not announced earlier. I cannot answer arbitrarily because the process of appointing judges involves the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 'It needs to go through discussions with the Rulers and after it is agreed, it will then be brought back to the King for consent,' Anwar explained. Earlier this week, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the appointment of the new Chief Justice of the Federal Court, Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as President of the Court of Appeal, and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. Their official swearing-in and presentation of letters of appointment will also be held on July 28.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
If the judiciary under the previous leadership reached new heights, why not under the new leadership? — Hafiz Hassan
JULY 20 — In 'Duty to uphold independence of judiciary' I wrote of the United Nations (UN) Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary which was adopted by the Seventh UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders held at Milan from August 26 to September 6, 1985 and endorsed by General Assembly resolutions 40/32 of November 29,1985 and 40/146 of December 13, 1985. Of the 20 basic principles, I explained that Malaysia's duty to uphold the basic principles of independence of the judiciary does not impose on it the duty to extend the tenure of retiring judges notwithstanding their impeccable integrity. Any method of judicial selection must safeguard against judicial appointments for improper motives. — Picture by Hari Anggara The duty is to select and appoint judges of integrity and ability with appropriate training or qualifications in law, without improper motives and discrimination. Any method of judicial selection must safeguard against judicial appointments for improper motives. The basic principles do not also impose a duty on member states, including Malaysia, to select and appoint judges based on seniority to lead the judiciary. Accordingly, seniority is not a requirement for the position of Chief Justice (CJ), President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), and Chief Judges of the High Court of Malaya (CJM) and Sabah and Sarawak (CJSS). Seniority is not a requirement under the basic principles and, importantly, under the Federal Constitution. Let's be clear that the Federal Constitution does not specify requirements for a superior court judge to become CJ, PCA, CJM and CJSS. Article 123 of the Federal Constitution only states that to serve as a judge of the superior courts, a person must be a Malaysian citizen with at least 10 years of experience as a lawyer or lower court judge. So let's welcome and celebrate the announced appointees for the top offices of the judiciary. After months of uncertainty and speculations, Malaysians must move forward with the judiciary under its new leadership. If the judiciary under the previous leadership reached new heights, why not under the new leadership? * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
