AG-C APPEALS AGAINST KU NAN’S ACQUITTAL
Ku Nan’s corruption case heading to Federal Court for ultimate decision
THE Attorney-General’s Chambers (AG-C) has filed a notice of appeal against the acquittal of Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, also known as Ku Nan, of his RM2 million corruption charge.
It was learnt the AG-C filed the appeal at the Federal Court yesterday after reviewing the Court of Appeal’s decision to free Tengku Adnan over the RM2 million graft charge and 12-month jail sentence.
On Friday, a three-member bench led by Datuk Suraya Othman in a 2-1 majority decision, allowed Tengku Adnan’s appeal to set aside the High Court’s decision on Dec 21, last year.
Suraya said High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan made an error in his judgment.
She said there was no evidence to show that the key witness in the case, property tycoon Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, had been dishonest when testifying.
She said Chai confirmed that the money he gave Tengku Adnan was a political donation for Umno to be used in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections.
Judge Datuk Ahmad Nasfy Yasin concurred with Suraya.
However, judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais disagreed and said the High Court was right in convicting Tengku Adnan.
In his dissenting judgment, Abu Bakar said the trial judge did not err in convicting Tengku Adnan.
“He (Tengku Adnan) received RM2 million from Chai while he was a public servant, when he knew the former had connections with his official duty as minister.
“There was no evidence that Tengku Adnan had spent the money for the by-elections.”
On Dec 21, last year, the High Court sentenced the former Federal Territories Minister to 12 months’ jail after finding him guilty of corruption in his capacity as a civil servant, namely the Federal Territories Minister, by receiving RM2 million for himself from Chai, who is the director of Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd.
The court also imposed a RM2 million fine on the Putrajaya member of parliament after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case against the accused.