Ku Nan ordered to enter defence over RM2 million bribe

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has been ordered to enter his defence for allegedly accepting a RM2 million bribe from a businessman.

High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled today that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against Tengku Adnan, who is popularly known as ‘Ku Nan’.

The 68-year old is alleged to have accepted for himself RM2 million from Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong.

The transaction was made via a Hong Leong Islamic Bank cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd, which was later deposited into the CIMB Bank account of Tadmansori Holding Sdn Bhd in which Tengku Adnan had an interest.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad, Pusat Bandar Damansara Branch here, on June 14, 2016.

On Jan 23 this year, Tengku Adnan maintained his “not guilty” plea before Mohamed Zaini when the charge was read to him again on the first mention after the case was allowed to be transferred from the Sessions Court to the High Court on Dec 14, 2018.

The trial began on July 2 with 23 prosecution witnesses, including two former Kuala Lumpur mayors – Tan Sri Ahmad Phesal Talib and Tan Sri Mohd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz – and Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd managing director Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, called in to testify.

Tengku Adnan has all this while maintained that the money was a political contribution meant for the by-elections in Sungai Besar, Selangor and Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

However, in its prior submission, the prosecution said there was no record of the money being banked into Umno’s account.

Tengku Adnan was previously an Umno Supreme Council member, Umno Federal Territories liaison chairman, Umno Putrajaya division chief and also Umno secretary-general.

He was represented by Tan Hock Chuan, while the prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim.

Tengku Adnan is charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries up to two years’ imprisonment, or a fine, or both, upon conviction.