Testifying under cross-examination in the sessions court here, Bung insisted that all negotiations regarding the introduction fee were strictly between his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, and Norhaili Mokhtar, an agent with Public Mutual Bhd.
“I had no business in that,” said the former Felcra non-executive chairman.
Questioned by deputy public prosecutor Low Chin How, Bung also denied directing then Felcra chief financial officer Azmy Abu Samah to inform Norhaili that Zizie would handle receipt of the money.
Low: Norhaili requested Zizie to reduce the amount from RM3 million to RM2.8 million, but she told Norhaili to ask you instead?
Bung: Not true. That is a malicious assumption.
Low: Norhaili then informed you that she had to cover other costs and asked if she could pay RM2.8 million?
Bung: Not true.
Low: You agreed for the amount to be reduced to RM2.8 million and ordered Zizie to manage receipt of the money?
Bung: Not true.
Low further asserted that Norhaili and her colleague, Madhi Hamid, had received RM5.6 million in commissions from Public Mutual for securing the deal.
He claimed that Bung had taken half of that sum under the guise of an introduction fee.
Bung’s counsel, Ridha Abdah Subri, objected to the questions and said they did not form part of the oral evidence tendered during the prosecution’s case.
“That information was given to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, not as part of oral evidence. We will raise this in our submissions,” he said.
In reply, Low said he appreciated the objections, but stressed that those were questions put to the witness.
“Not true,” Bung said in answer to Low’s assertion.
Bung faces two charges of receiving bribes of RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as an inducement to obtain Felcra’s approval to invest RM150 million in Public Mutual unit trusts.
He is alleged to have accepted bribes from Madhi through Zizie at the Taman Melawati Public Bank branch between 12.30pm and 5pm on June 12, 2015.
He faces a separate charge of receiving RM337,500 from Norhaili under Zizie’s name at the same bank on June 19, 2015.
Zizie faces three charges of abetting Bung in the commission of the alleged offences.
The hearing before judge Rosli Ahmad continues on Friday.