Former M’sian minister fined, given 1-year jail term after guilty verdict in S$659k graft case

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was sentenced to imprisonment and a fine by the High Court on Monday (Dec 21) after he was found guilty of accepting a RM2 million (S$659,000) bribe in his capacity as former Federal Territories minister.

High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, in handing down the punishment, said he had taken into consideration all of the mitigation arguments submitted by the defence and the prosecution, including public interest and that of the accused.

“The punishment prescribed in Section 165 of the Penal Code is up to two years or a fine, or both, if convicted.

“I’m inclined to follow precedents in which a jail sentence is an appropriate sentence.

“Therefore, the accused is sentenced to 12 months in prison and fined RM2 million in default of six months’ jail,” he said.

In meting out the sentence, Mr Mohamed Zaini said the sentencing trend must also reflect the key considerations of deterrence and public interest.

During mitigation for sentencing, Tengku Adnan’s lawyer Tan Hock Chuan submitted in court that only a fine of less than RM2,000 without any imprisonment should be imposed to allow his client to retain his parliamentary seat.

Mr Tan also highlighted his client was a first-time offender and the act was not a heinous crime.

Mr Tan also asked for the court to take into account his client’s contribution to the country and his constituents against the fact that the offences were committed in Tengku Adnan’s capacity as a minister at the material time.

He also disclosed Tengku Adnan’s health complications involving the heart and lungs, whereby his client was hypotensive and suffered from lipidemia.

The conviction could also mean an end to Tengku Adnan’s political career in Malaysia, as it jeopardises his chances of participating in the next election and his disqualification as an elected representative.

TENGKU ADNAN'S CHARGE

Tengku Adnan was charged in his capacity as a public servant, with having received for himself a total of RM2 million from Mr Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, who is the director of Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd (AKSB).

The money was received via a Hong Leong Islamic Bank cheque belonging to the company which was deposited into a CIMB account owned by Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd, which Tengku Adnan has an interest in and is known to AKSB as being related to his official duties.

The Putrajaya MP was accused of committing the offence, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, at CIMB Bank Berhad of Pusat Bandar Damansara branch in Malaysia on June 14, 2016. MALAY MAIL