RM2m is like pocket money to me, says Ku Nan
Tensions ran high during the corruption trial of former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today, with the Putrajaya MP accusing the prosecution of defaming him and tarnishing his image before telling the Kuala Lumpur High Court that RM2 million was merely “pocket money” to him.
"You have been trying to damage my image since the first day of the trial. You talk to the media and make contradictory statements. This is not fair.
“I am a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing law. I know where you...
Tensions ran high during the corruption trial of former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today, with the Putrajaya MP accusing the prosecution of defaming him and tarnishing his image before telling the Kuala Lumpur High Court that RM2 million was merely “pocket money” to him.
"You have been trying to damage my image since the first day of the trial. You talk to the media and make contradictory statements. This is not fair.
“I am a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing law. I know where you are going with your questions,” he told deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim.
"Why are you still accusing me, when you dismiss the charges against the former finance minister (Lim Guan Eng)," added Tengku Adnan, also known as Ku Nan.
He was responding to Julia’s request for him to clarify a witness statement in which he described the allegations as “irrelevant”.
Julia told him to raise the issue of his and Lim’s charges with the attorney-general, saying she did not have the power to decide on such matters.
"Why are you asking me to dismiss the charges? You need to ask the AG," she said.
Tengku Adnan replied: "That's right, you ask your AG. Wait. There's no AG now. Resigned."
He was referring to Tommy Thomas, who resigned as AG last week following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.
The exchange came a day after Tengku Adnan lashed out while being questioned about asset declarations he made as a cabinet minister, which showed that he had once been worth about RM900 million.
'I can raise funds myself'
After calming down, Tengku Adnan said he did not need to accept funds from third parties.
Julia: The charge against you, something valuable. RM2 million is not valuable to you, perhaps?
Tengku Adnan: Not perhaps. Not valuable... RM2 million, my pocket money.
Julia: Perhaps valuable to someone.
Tengku Adnan: I don’t know, God knows.
Tengku Adnan later rejected the suggestion that the RM2 million was for his personal use or a gift to him, insisting it was a political donation for Umno’s expenses.
“This is a political donation, used for political purposes; it’s not used as a hadiah (gift) to me or anybody. No, no, because it’s not a hadiah, why should I report to the prime minister?” he said when asked whether he had informed the prime minister about receiving the money while he was in the Cabinet.
Tengku Adnan is charged with accepting RM2 million from businessperson Chai Kin Kong through a cheque issued by Aset Kayamas and deposited into a bank account belonging to Tadmansori Holdings, a company he owned.
He allegedly committed the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad’s Damansara City Centre branch on June 14, 2016, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum two-year jail term, a fine, or both.
The trial is set to resume this afternoon before judge Zaini Mazlan.
