Appeals Court acquits Tengku Adnan of graft case, conviction set aside

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor of a graft charge after allowing the former Federal Territories Minister's appeal to quash his conviction and sentence of 12-month jail and RM2 million fine.

Justice Datuk Suraya Othman, who read the 2-1 majority decision, said the High Court judge had erred in its judgment in finding the appellant (Tengku Adnan) guilty on the charge.

"The appellant should have been acquitted. We must intervene and allow this appeal. We therefore set aside the conviction and sentence by the High Court judge," she said.

Justice Datuk Ahmad Nasfy Yasin concurred with Justice Suraya, while Justice Datuk Abu Bakar Jais dissented.

On Dec 21 last year, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan sentenced Tengku Adnan, known as Ku Nan, to 12-month jail and fine of RM2 million after finding him guilty.

Tengku Adnan, 70, was charged in his capacity as a public servant, namely Minister of Federal Territories, with having received for himself a total of RM2 million from Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd (AKSB) director Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong via a cheque deposited into a bank account owned by Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd (THSB), in which Tengku Adnan has an interest in and is known to AKSB as being related to his official duties.

Tengku Adnan who is currently treasurer-general of UMNO (bendahari agung) was accused of committing the offence at CIMB Bank Berhad, Damansara Town Centre branch here on June 14, 2016, under Section 165 of the Penal Code which provides an imprisonment of up to two years or a fine or both.

-- BERNAMA