Malaysian court acquits BN politician’s widow Zizie Izette after 7-year battle

Malaysian Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad acquitted former actress Zizie Izette Abdul Samad on Monday, ending a seven-year legal ordeal. The 48-year-old widow of late Barisan Nasional politician Bung Moktar Radin had been charged with abetting her husband in receiving 2.8 million ringgit (US$685,000) in bribes from investment agents in 2015. The inducement was allegedly tied to Felcra Berhad’s US$36.7 million investment in Public Mutual unit trusts. The court ruled the defense had raised reasonable doubt on all three charges, leading to her acquittal.

Outside the Kuala Lumpur court complex, Zizie said she felt “such relief” after years of silence. She described herself as a private person who now must care for five children as a single mother. Prosecutors had alleged that Bung received payments from agent Madhi Abdul Hamid and consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar. The case had drawn significant public attention given Bung’s high-profile political career. Zizie’s acquittal closes a prolonged chapter, though questions about the broader corruption allegations remain unanswered.