Trial judge Rozina Ayob said she was fixing the dates as this case has been long outstanding.

The trial is now scheduled to continue on June 15, 16, 26 and 27, and July 10 to 14, 20, 21, 24 and 25.

“The court has to fix dates for the defence to commence as this case began in 2019,” Rozina said when the matter came up for mention today.

Deputy public prosecutor Noor Syafina Radzuan appeared for the prosecution.

The trial judge had previously assigned 14 days for the continued hearing, beginning Sept 26 last year, after she ruled the prosecution had proved a prima facie case against the couple on Sept 2.

However, the trial could not proceed as the High Court had stayed all proceedings pending the couple’s application for it to review the sessions court order calling for their defence.

Zizie’s lawyer, Teh See Khoon, said the couple’s appeal to the Court of Appeal has been fixed for case management on March 22.

The duo went to the appellate court after the High Court on Dec 9 rejected their mode for challenging Rozina’s ruling calling for their defence.

Allowing a preliminary objection raised by the prosecution, High Court Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid ruled that Bung and Zizie were wrong to file motions, supported by affidavits, seeking a revision of Rozina’s decision.

He said the couple ought to have only sent a letter to the High Court requesting the review.

Teh said the appeal cannot proceed yet as the High Court registry has yet to finalise the appeal records, which must include the written judgment of the High Court judge and the notes of evidence.

Bung’s lawyer, M Athimulan, said the defence will call six witnesses, including the couple, to give evidence.

Bung faces two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as gratification when he was Felcra’s chairman.

He is alleged to have done so to obtain Felcra’s approval to make a RM150 million Public Mutual unit investment in June 2015.

Zizie faces three charges of abetting him.