KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15): Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today to face charges, reportedly involving dubious Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) land deals.

Wearing a blue batik top, the former federal territories minister who is commonly known as Ku Nan, arrived at the complex at 1.56pm. He avoided eye contact as he was escorted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which held him overnight upon his arrival at the anti-graft agency’s in Putrajaya at 3.15pm yesterday.

It was widely reported that Tengku Adnan would face charges in relation to dubious land transactions between DBKL and Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP), in which he was previously chairman.

His charges will be read in front of Sessions Court Justice Azman bin Ahmad, according to court filings. 

In September, a special committee had published a report under the purview of current federal territories minister Khalid Abdul Samad that for over 97 transactions between 2011 and 2018 involving 72.4 acres of DBKL land worth RM5.63 billion, of which RM3.7 billion worth of payment has been received.

The report cleared 43 transactions, renegotiated 23, terminated 10, and passed on 20 transactions to MACC for investigations. One more deal was brought to court by the developer involved.

Khalid reportedly said two transactions involving the YWP were seen as having conflict of interests considering Tengku Adnan was both the foundation’s chairman and the FT minister at that time.

The review followed calls by Pakatan Harapan politicians for investigations into DBKL land deals, alleging the YWP of buying lands from DBKL at below market price between 2013 and 2018.

YWP’s chief executive officer Zaizalnizam Zainun denied the allegation. He reportedly said the foundation only purchased one land from DBKL at market price and through normal procedures. He also confirmed that MACC has visited the foundation.

On Oct 30, Tengku Adnan told the Dewan Rakyat that he had “nothing to do with the sales approved in the Federal Territiories”.

“I had handed over the land problems in the Federal Territories during my tenure as minister, to the Prime Minister's Department,” he reportedly said.

Including yesterday, Tengku Adnan has been summoned by the MACC 13 times to assist investigations into the land deals.

Tengku Adnan’s case number is WA-61R-24-11/2018 Tengku Adnan bin Tengku Mansor vs public prosecutor.