Tengku Adnan charged again for accepting RM2 mln after discharge

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here yesterday discharged, but not amounting to an acquittal, former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor on a charge of accepting RM2 million bribe from a businessman two years ago.

Judge Azman Ahmad made the ruling after allowing an application by the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim, to discharge without acquitting Tengku Adnan, 68, of the charge, which was the second charge made against him when he was first charged in court last Nov 15.

The charge was made under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment for up to two years, or with fine, or both, if found guilty.

?We find the facts in the first and second charge not related and therefore inappropriate to be tried together.

“However, we will refile the second charge and will read as a new separate charge,” she said.

Tengku Adnan’s lawyer, Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, did not object to the prosecution’s application, but requested the bail of RM1 million which had been imposed earlier on his client for the two charges to be reduced to RM500,000 with one surety.

Tan said this would enable Tengku Adnan, who is Umno Treasurer, to post the bail on the new charge to be made against him.

Azman allowed Tan’s request, but maintained the other condition which required Tengku Adnan to surrender his diplomatic and international passports to the court. - Bernama