Bung Moktar Radin, who was ordered to enter his defence on charges of corruption over a RM150 million Felcra investment almost three years ago, is expected to take the witness stand at the sessions court on Monday.
M Athimulan, the lawyer for the Kinabatangan MP and Sabah Umno chief, confirmed the matter.
“Yes, the defence will begin their case on Monday,” he told FMT in a text message.
The trial, to be presided over by sessions court judge Rosli Ahmad, is also fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Sept 2, 2022, then sessions court judge Rozina Ayob ordered Bung and his wife, Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, to enter their defence after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them.
Zizie is charged with abetting her husband.
The High Court acquitted them of the charges following a revision application after it ruled that Rozina had erred in calling them to answer the charges.
Last year, the Court of Appeal allowed the prosecution’s appeal to order the couple to enter the defence, saying that the revision application was premature.
Three months ago, Bung and Zizie failed to set aside the appellate court’s decision.
Bung, the non-executive chairman of Felcra at the time, was charged with two counts 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 Norhaili Madhi, a Public Mutual investment agent, through Zizie.
He was also charged with receiving a bribe of RM337,500 from Norhaili under Zizie’s name at the same location on June 19, 2015.
Zizie faces three charges of abetting Bung in the commission of the alleged offences.
Lawyer K Kumaraendran is appearing for Zizie, while deputy public prosecutors Law Chin How and Fadhly Zamry are representing the prosecution.
