Suspense ahead of court's decision in three high-profile cases
KUALA LUMPUR - The courts will once again become the centre of attention as it was set to deliver the decision in three high-profile cases during the first five days in September.
It involved the case of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who was charged with soliciting RM187.5 million and receiving RM6.5 million in bribes which will be decided by the High Court, here, on Sept 1.
The next day, the Sessions Court, here, will deliver its decision on whether Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his celebrity wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad will be acquitted of their corruption charges or ordered to enter their defence.
Meanwhile on Sept 5, a three-man Court of Appeal bench will deliver its decision on an appeal by former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim to set aside his 13 charges of corruption and money laundering.
Certainly, the focus will be more on the outcome of Rosmah's case, after the Federal Court rejected the appeal of her husband, Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the misappropriation of RM42 million funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The case of Bung Moktar and Zizie’s was an interesting one too as the prosecution had previously applied to cross-examine 25th prosecution witness Unit trust consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar who was also a key witness after she was being deemed a hostile witness (in the prosecution’s case).
Norhaili during examination in chief maintained her testimony on Jan 27, that Zizie was eligible to receive an introduction fee of RM2.8 million as the actress introduced her husband to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million.
On May 3, 2019, Bung Moktar, 64, pleaded not guilty to two charges of accepting bribes amounting to RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
The Sabah Umno chief who was the non-executive chairman of Felcra at the time, was accused of accepting the bribes from Madhi through Zizie at Public Bank’s Taman Melawati branch here between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
He also pleaded not guilty to accepting an RM335,500 cash bribe from Norhaili through Zizie for a similar reason at the same place on June 19, 2015.
Zizie, 44, pleaded not guilty to three charges of abetting her husband in the matter at the same place and time.
Meanwhile, after several adjournments, the Court of Appeal has set the final date for the decision of Abdul Azeez's appeal.
During the last proceedings, the Baling MP did not show up in court as he was admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre due to stomach pain.
Whatever the decision will be, it is going to be a colourful spell in the political arena.
