KUALA LUMPUR: Former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was charged at the Sessions Court on Thursday with two counts of receiving RM3 million from property developers.
“Not guilty, I claim trial,” said the Putrajaya member of parliament in entering his plea after the charges were read to him before judge Azman Ahmad.
On the first count, Tengku Adnan, 68, was charged in his position as a public servant, which was the federal territories minister at the time, with accepting RM1 million from Tan Eng Boon.
The sum was allegedly received by the accused from Tan via a cheque belonging to Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd that was deposited into the accused's account as an inducement to approve an application by Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development) to increase the plot ratio of the development of Lot 228 at Jalan Semarak, here.
The offence was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Bhd, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra Branch, Level 2, Podium Block, Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra, Jalan Tun Ismail, here, on Dec 27, 2013.
The charge under Section 16 (a) (A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 carries a jail term of up to 20 years with a fine of up to five times the value of the graft or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Tengku Adnan was also charged with an alternative charge of accepting the same amount without asking for anything in return from the same person (Tan), knowing that he has an official connection with the person who was the director of Nucleus Properties.
The offence was allegedly committed at the same place and time.
On the second charge, Tengku Adnan was alleged to have received RM2 million without anything in return from one Chai Kin Kong via a cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd.
The sum was allegedly deposited into Tadmansori Holding Sdn Bhd’s account, in which the accused has an interest in and knowing that Aset Kayamas had connections with his official function.
The offence was allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Bhd, Pusat Bandar Damansara Branch, Level 1, Lot A4, Block A, Pusat Bandar Damansara, here, on June 14, 2016.
The charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail and a fine, if convicted.
The court allowed Tengku Adnan RM1 million bail with one surety and ordered for the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
The case will be up for mention on Dec 12.
MACC deputy public prosecutors Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar and Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar prosecuted while lawyers Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Datuk S. Satharuban, Quek Ming Sen, and Kee Shu Min represented Tengku Adnan.