Former Tabung Haji COO claims trial over RM302,499 renovation costs

SHAH ALAM: Former Lembaga Tabung Haji chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani today pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court to three charges of accepting RM302,499.27 in renovation costs for three houses in 2017.

Adi Azuan, 56, was accused of, while serving as a public servant with Tabung Haji, accepting for himself valuable items without consideration, which he knew to be inadequate, namely the cost of renovating three houses — one in Section 13 and two others in Kota Damansara and USJ 2, Petaling Jaya.

He allegedly received RM235,866.58, RM50,698.74 and RM15,933.95 on March 7, 2017, from AG Reka Sdn Bhd director Thamsulazri Ismail, a person whom he knew to have a connection with his duties.

The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Clad in a dark suit, Adi Azuan entered his plea after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.

"I understand the charges. I plead not guilty," he said calmly from the dock as several of his family members sat in the public gallery.

Before the proceedings began, his lawyer Datuk Tania Scivettii sought the court's permission to hand her client copies of the charges for reference as they were being read.

The charges were read to him three weeks after he was initially scheduled to appear in court on Sept 3.

The proceedings were postponed after he was hospitalised on Aug 31 due to heart-related issues.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin said the offences were non-bailable but left it to the court to decide whether to grant bail and impose any other conditions it deemed fit.

"If the court wishes to exercise its discretion to allow bail, the prosecution requests that bail be fixed at RM70,000," he said.

His lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin sought a lower bail of RM30,000, saying his client had cooperated with the MACC.

He said his client was not a flight risk despite having been investigated in 2018 and again in August and September this year.

He said his client, who retired from Tabung Haji last year, was supporting his four children, aged between 12 and 25, who are still studying.

"My client is suffering from cardio-related issues that require him to take medication to reduce his heart rate, and he has been advised to avoid physical activity and emotional stress as much as possible.

"I also ask that the court not impound his passport as he wants to perform umrah.

"There is no risk of him absconding as even when the MACC wanted to record his statement, he cooperated and attended the MACC office in his hospital gown," he said.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Awang Kerisnada fixed bail at RM50,000 with two local sureties living in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

He also ordered the accused to report to the MACC office and the investigating officer once every three months from October onwards, surrender his passport and refrain from interfering with witnesses.

"The court needs to impose these additional conditions to demonstrate that this is a serious offence that warrants the accused's attendance for future proceedings," he said.

The court set Nov 25 for mention.

Also appearing for the defence was lawyer Effa Azuin Aidrul Hisham.