Zizie Izette Fully Acquitted After Court Rules RM2.8 Million Was Legitimate Introduction Fee

KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 — The Sessions Court today fully acquitted and discharged Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad of all three corruption abetment charges involving RM2.8 million. The landmark ruling brings a definitive end to an 11-year legal saga tied to a RM150 million FELCRA Berhad unit trust investment in Public Mutual Berhad.

Judge Rosli Ahmad delivered the decisive verdict after concluding that the defense team had successfully raised reasonable doubt at the close of their case, effectively shattering the prosecution’s structural arguments.

“Having considered the entirety of the evidence, this court finds that the accused has successfully raised a reasonable doubt in this case, while the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, this court orders that the accused be acquitted and discharged of all three charges,” Judge Rosli ruled.

Zizie Izette, 47, the widow of the late former Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, appeared visibly moved in the courtroom upon hearing the absolute discharge.

A pivotal component of the court’s judgment rested on the legal definition of the financial transactions. Judge Rosli ruled that the RM2.8 million central to the prosecution’s allegations was not a bribe, but was in fact a legitimate introduction fee. The court noted that the defense’s position remained entirely consistent with the critical testimonies provided by the 24th prosecution witness, Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar, and the 25th prosecution witness, Madhi Abdul Hamid.

“Accordingly, the accused did not abet the offence through any unlawful agreement or conspiracy, and the introduction fee did not amount to a bribe,” Judge Rosli clarified, completely vindicating the actress. Furthermore, the court found that Zizie Izette possessed no material knowledge regarding the mechanics of the corporate investment product.

The judgment also highlighted a critical procedural failure in the prosecution’s abetment framework. The bench held that to sustain the abetment charges against Zizie Izette, the state was legally required to prove all essential elements of the principal offense against her late husband, Bung Moktar, who passed away on December 5 last year.

“However, in this case, the charge against the first accused was withdrawn following his death,” the judge observed, noting the formal discontinuance of Bung Moktar’s case in January. “As a result, the prosecution was unable to establish the element of abetment.”

The absolute acquittal marks a total legal victory for the defense, establishing that the long-contested funds were distributed via normal commercial agency practices rather than unlawful gratification.

-NMT