RM2m 'political donation' marked as debt-offset in Ku Nan company books

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (above) had claimed RM2 million he received from a developer was a political donation, an executive for his company told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

However, Tadmansori Holdings Sdn Bhd's accountant revealed that the money was recorded as a debt-offset for money Tengku Adnan had borrowed from the company.

Tengku Adnan is on trial in his capacity as then federal territories minister for taking RM2 million from Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd, a company that has dealings with Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

The cheque was issued from Aset Kayamas to the account of Tengku Adnan's Tadmansori Holdings on June 14, 2016.

The prosecution alleges that Tengku Adnan had asked for the funds from Aset Kayamas owner Chai Kin Kong on the pre-text of by-election funding.

In his witness statement, Tadmansori Holdings chief operating officer Mohd Hasbi Abdullah said he learned about the cheque when Tengku Adnan forwarded to him a photo of the bank deposit slip via WhatsApp.

On cross-examination by defence lead counsel Tan Hock Chuan, Mohd Hasbi revealed that the BN secretary-general had informed him in later conversation that the RM2 million was a political donation.

On re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Rullizah Abdul Majid, the COO, however, said this transaction was not recorded as such in the company's accounts.

"What I can say is that after we communicated, we understood the money was a political donation, but in the (accounting) treatment we considered it as an amount that was advanced to the company, that is all I can say," the prosecution witness said.

Earlier, Tadmansori Holdings finance and accounting assistant manager Rabiatul Adawiyah Sobri told the court today that the RM2 million deposit was recorded as debt-offset in the company's general ledger.

This was to off-set unspecified debts Tengku Adnan had with the company.

She said it was not unusual for Tengku Adnan to both borrow and advance money to the company.

[More to follow] - Mkini