Ku Nan charged with receiving RM3mil bribes
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Cabinet member Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has been charged with receiving RM3mil in bribes from property developers in connection with his official functions as the Federal Territories Minister at the time.
The 68-year-old was accused of corruptly receiving RM1mil from property developer Datuk Tan Eng Boon through a cheque belonging to Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd, which was deposited into Tengku Adnan’s account.
The money was purportedly to reward him for approving the application of Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd) to increase the plot ratio in respect of a development on Lot 228 in Jalan Semarak here.
The offence was allegedly committed at the CIMB Bank branch at the Putra World Trade Centre on Dec 27, 2013.
Tengku Adnan faces an alternative charge of accepting the RM1mil from Tan at the same place and time through a cheque that was deposited into his account when he knew Tan was a director of Nucleus Properties and had a connection with his official functions as the minister.
In a second charge, Tengku Adnan is accused of accepting RM2mil in his capacity as the Federal Territories Minister from one Chai Kin Kong.
The money was allegedly received through a cheque issued by Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd, which was deposited into the bank account of Tadmansori Sdn Bhd.
It was alleged that Tengku Adnan knew he had official dealings with Aset Kayamas at the time.
He was accused of committing the crime on June 14, 2016.
The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or fine or both, if convicted.
DPP Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar offered bail at RM1mil.
Tengku Adnan’s lawyer, Tan Hock Chuan, agreed to the amount and informed the court that his client was able to settle the amount yesterday.
Sessions Court judge Azman Ahmad fixed bail at RM1mil in two sureties. The case is fixed for mention on Dec 12.
Meanwhile, in a separate Sessions Court case, Eng Boon, 70, pleaded not guilty to a charge whose details correspond to the first charge against Tengku Adnan.
Eng Boon is charged with bribing Tengku Adnan with RM1mil through a cheque belonging to Pekan Nenas Industries, which was deposited into the latter’s CIMB bank account.
Eng Boon allegedly made the payment on Dec 27, 2013, as a reward for Tengku Adnan’s approval of an application by Nucleus Properties to increase the plot ratio of the Jalan Semarak project.
The charge under Section 16(b) (A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 carries a max- imum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification, if convicted.
In an alternative charge, Eng Boon was accused of abetting Tengku Adnan in relation to the same offence allegedly committed at the same place and date.
The charge under Section 109 of the Penal Code carries up to two years’ jail time or a fine or both, upon conviction.
The charges against Eng Boon was read out in Mandarin before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
Lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram offered a RM3mil bail and asked for the accused’s international passport to be surrendered.
Eng Boon’s counsel Faisal Moideen said the amount proposed was excessive and punitive and pleaded for RM350,000 instead.
Faisal told the court that his client has a RM70,000 bond with the MACC and has surrendered his passport to the commission on July 25 during a remand hearing at the Putrajaya magistrate’s court.
He added that Eng Boon did not flee the country when the anti-graft body returned the passport in August.
Faisal said his client suffered from high blood pressure and has been treated in Singapore since 2005. “He goes to Singapore for a monthly check up, and he has business interests there,” he said.
Judge Azura then allowed bail at RM700,000 in two sureties and ordered for Eng Boon to report to the MACC office nearest to his residence every month. He was also ordered to provide the court with an itinerary for any travel to destinations other than Singapore a week before his intended travel.
The case is fixed for mention on Dec 12.