This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on November 16, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor yesterday pleaded not guilty to receiving RM3 million in bribes from property developers over land deals during his tenure as the federal territories minister. The 67-year-old is now the third ex-cabinet minister of the previous Barisan Nasional administration after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to be dragged to court over graft offences.

Tengku Adnan — commonly known as Ku Nan — was brought to the Courts Complex in Jalan Duta by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after an overnight arrest at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Putrajaya.

The former minister, sporting a blue-purple batik shirt, was tight-lipped and avoided eye contact upon arrival at the complex. Also attending the hearing were Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa and former Perlis menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim.

For the first charge, Tengku Adnan was accused of receiving a RM1 million bribe from property tycoon Datuk Tan Eng Boon by way of a cheque deposited into his personal bank account on Dec 27, 2013.

The Putrajaya parliamentarian allegedly received the bribe to approve the application by Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd) to increase the industrial plot ratio of a piece of land in Jalan Semarak.

The charge, under Section 16(a) (A) of the MACC Act 2009, provides for up to 20 years’ jail and a fine of RM10,000 or a minimum of five times the gratification sum, whichever is higher, upon conviction. Paragon City is a unit of Paragon Adventure Sdn Bhd. The property development company is owned by Eng Boon’s two sons — Datuk Seri Edwin Tan and Datuk Seri Godwin Tan — and is a controlling shareholder of listed company Goh Ban Huat Bhd.

The first charge also carries an alternative charge, which accuses Tengku Adnan of receiving RM1 million from Eng Boon without anything in return knowing that he had official dealings with Nucleus Properties at the time.

As for the second charge, Tengku Adnan is accused of receiving RM2 million via his company Tadmansori Holding Sdn Bhd without anything in return from another property tycoon, Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, via a cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd despite knowing that he had official dealings with Aset Kayamas at the time.

Tengku Adnan was accused of committing the second offence on June 14, 2016.

According to the official website of Aset Kayamas, Chai currently serves as the chairman of the property development company.

The alternative charge and the second charge were read under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail time of two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.

The charges were read in the Sessions Court in front of Judge Azman Ahmad, who granted Tengku Adnan bail of RM1 million, with the case set for mention again on Dec 12. Tengku Adnan was also instructed to surrender his passport.

Tengku Adnan’s defence team comprises Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, Datuk Satharuban Sivasubramaniam, Quek Ming Sen and Kee Shu Min. The prosecution were led by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar and Mohd Muhkzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar.

Meanwhile, Eng Boon was also charged in a separate court for allegedly paying the former minister RM1 million. The charge is under Section 16(b)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

Eng Boon pleaded not guilty in front of Judge Azura Alwi, who granted him bail of RM700,000. He was instructed to surrender his passport as well as to report himself to any MACC office each month untill the case is settled, with the case set for mention again on Dec 12.

A quick search showed that the Jalan Semarak land in question is located opposite Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The freehold land measuring some 6.389 acres (2.59ha) is valued by real estate agents at around RM580 per square feet for a total value of over RM160 million.

It is understood that the land belonged to Kuala Lumpur City Hall previously, and Tengku Adnan allegedly facilitated the land dealings.