Ku Nan found guilty in RM2m corruption case
Former federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Mansor has been found guilty in his RM2 million corruption case.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan delivered the verdict as the accused looked on from the dock during open-court proceedings this morning...
Former federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Mansor has been found guilty in his RM2 million corruption case.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan delivered the verdict as the accused looked on from the dock during open-court proceedings this morning.
"The prosecution has succeeded in proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The accused has failed to raise reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case.
"I find the accused guilty and convict him on the charge," Zaini ruled.
The court then took a short recess between 30 and 45 minutes to allow the defence to prepare mitigation for sentencing later.
The case was fixed for a decision today at the end of defence.
Previously on Dec 7, another Kuala Lumpur High Court granted Tengku Adnan a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) in a separate RM1 million corruption case.
According to the charge relevant to today’s verdict, Tengku Adnan, in his capacity as a public servant, namely as then federal territories minister, was accused to have accepted for himself RM2 million from Chai Kin Kong, who is director of Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd, via a Hong Leong Islamic Bank cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas.
The cheque was later allegedly deposited into the CIMB Bank account of Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd, in which the accused had an alleged interest when it was purported that Aset Kayamas had a connection with his official duties.
The offence was purportedly committed at the Pusat Bandar Damansara branch of CIMB Bank Bhd on June 14, 2016.
Tengku Adnan was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which specifies a jail term of up to two years, fine, or both.
In reading out excerpts from an 80-page plus judgment, Zaini ruled that the defence failed to show the RM2 million was used to pay for two by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar in 2016.
The judge noted that he was unable to accept submissions that Tengku Adnan alone was entrusted to raise funds for the by-elections, as these two constituencies were not in his domain as chairperson of Umno and BN federal territories.
Zaini noted that there is no evidence that he would be getting RM2 million from Chai, or to show that the accused had withdrawn money from Tadmansori’s account to pay for by-election expenses.
“It is therefore established that the accused used Tadmansori as a facade to receive the fruits of his crime,” Zaini said.
On Tengku Adnan defence team's contention that the criminal case was part of a political conspiracy by Umno and BN's rival political parties to upend them (Umno and BN), Zaini pointed out that the accused's complaint is not novel.
The judge noted that other politicians charged in court before, such as the 1970s case against then Selangor menteri besar Harun Idris, had complained of a political conspiracy.
Harun was charged with forgery for the purpose of cheating, and criminal breach of trust.
"Our (court) decisions are made purely based on the law and evidence, and not sentiments or conjectures.
"The judiciary does not partake in political shenanigans. The independence of the judiciary is enshrined in the (Federal) Constitution.
"If any wrong is done, be it by the state or individuals, then it is for the courts to rectify or punish," Zaini said.
"It has been said many times, that the courts of law are the last bastion of justice for the citizens. Let it remain that way," he added.
