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Ku Nan bids to recuse judge on corruption trial

Ku Nan bids to recuse judge on corruption trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today filed a motion to recuse the trial judge, postponing his RM1 million corruption trial.

Tengku Adnan, popularly known as Ku Nan, filed a motion to remove Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali via his lawyer Tan Hock Chuan, claiming the latter could be biased against him.

In his affidavit, Tengku Adnan claimed that he would not receive a fair trial as Nazlan knew the facts of his case after having sentenced businessman Datuk Tan Eng Boon, who pleaded guilty to abetment on Tuesday.

He added that it was also reported in the media that Tan has turned into one of the prosecution’s witness for his trial.

“Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done,” said Tengku Adnan.

Following the motion, Nazlan instructed deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim to file an affidavit in reply to Tengku Adnan’s motion by 3pm today.

The judge will hear the recusal application tomorrow.

Recently, Nazlan slapped Tan with a RM1.5 million fine for abetting in a RM1 million bribe to Tengku Adnan over several land deals involving the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Tan, 70, pleaded guilty to an amended charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a two-year jail term, a fine or both upon conviction.

In imposing the fine, Nazlan said he had taken into consideration that Tan had abetted another person in committing the crime, in which both were jointly charged.

Tan, who owns a property development company, was accused of giving Tengku Adnan RM1 million in bribes through a Public Bank cheque belonging to Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd.

The cheque was deposited into a CIMB Bank account owned by Tengku Adnan.

The Putrajaya MP, meanwhile, was charged with receiving the RM1 million payment from Tan to approve an 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 on Jalan Semarak.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Putra World Trade Centre CIMB bank branch on Dec 27, 2013.

Ku Nan was charged under Section 24(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act. If convicted, he could be jailed up to 20 years and fined five times the gratification amount.