Review of Session Court's decision: Zizie Izette applies to hear case with Bung Moktar's application

Lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran, who is representing Zizie Izette, said he had requested that Zizie Izette's application be transferred before Judicial Commissioner (JC) Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid when the case was mentioned today.

JC Azhar then set Oct 17 to hear the application.

Zizie Izette's case should have been heard before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah while Bung Moktar's case was before JC Azhar.

On Sept 23, Judge Sequerah granted the application of Bung Moktar, 64, and Zizie Izette, 44, to postpone their trial at the Sessions Court after the couple filed a notice of motion to review and set aside the decision made by the Sessions Court Judge on Sept 2.

The Kinabatangan MP and his wife filed separate review applications on Sept 19, among other things, asking the High Court to call and examine the records of the proceedings in the Sessions Court which heard and ruled that they were defending themselves against charges of corruption and abetment.

In the application, both sought an order from the High Court to cancel the decision delivered by the Sessions Court.

Both applicants said the judge who heard the trial erred in law and fact when she ruled that the prosecution successfully proved the applicants received bribes from two investment agents who were key witnesses in the case.

Meanwhile, in the Sessions Court, Judge Rozina Ayob fixed Oct 17 for the parties to inform the court about the progress status of the couple's application.

"The trial date (defence) scheduled for Oct 14 is vacated while the trial dates on Oct 28, Nov 21 and 31, Dec 1 and 7, Jan 3 and Jan 9 to 13 2023 are maintained," said the judge after allowing the application Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah that the dates of the hearing previously set be maintained while the applications of Bung Moktar and Zizie Izette are heard and decided by the High Court.

On Sept 2, Rozina ordered the couple to defend themselves on three charges of corruption after finding that the prosecution had successfully proved a prima facie case against them.

The couple was supposed to defend themselves on three charges of corruption amounting to RM2.8 million, involving Public Mutual Berhad unit trust investments starting on Sept 23.

On May 3, 2019, Bung Moktar was charged with 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.

Bung Moktar is accused of accepting bribes from Public Mutual agent, Madhi Abdul Hamid, through Zizie Izette at Taman Melawati Public Bank Branch here between 12.30 pm and 5 pm on June 12, 2015.

The UMNO Supreme Council member was also charged with accepting a cash bribe of RM337,500 from Unit Amanah consultant, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar under the name of Zizie Izette for the same reason and at the same place on June 19, 2015 while Zizie Izette faces three charges of abetting with her husband in relation to the matter at the same place, date and time.