RM2m is like pocket money to me, says Ku Nan

Tensions ran high in the corruption trial of former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who accused the prosecution of defaming him and tarnishing his image, before going on to tell the Kuala Lumpur High Court that RM2 million is like “pocket money” to him.

"You have been trying to damage my image since the first day of the trial. You talk to the media and make contradictory statements. This is not fair.

“I am a former minister in the Prime Minister's Department overseeing Law. I know where you are going with your questions,” he told deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim today.

"Why are you still accusing me, when you dismiss the charges against the former finance minister (Lim Guan Eng)," added Tengku Adnan, better known as Ku Nan.

The Putrajaya MP said this in response to Julia's request that he clarifies a witness statement in which he said the allegations were “irrelevant”.

Julia asked him to refer the question regarding his and Lim's charges to the attorney-general because she did not have the power to decide on such matters.

"Why are you asking me to dismiss the charges? You need to ask AG, "she said.

Tengku Adnan responded: "That's right, you ask your AG. Wait. There's no AG now. Resigned."

This was in reference to Tommy Thomas's resignation from the position last week after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

Today's exchange followed an outburst by Tengku Adnan yesterday when he was questioned about asset declarations he made while he was in cabinet, which revealed that he was once worth around RM900 million.

'I can raise fund myself'

After calming down, Tengku Adnan said there was no need for him to accept funds from third parties.

“I never asked the party president for money for political activities in my parliamentary constituency. I can source the funds myself. RM2 million is like pocket money for me," he said.

Tengku Adnan is facing a charge of accepting RM2 million from businessperson Chai Kin Kong via a cheque belonging to Aset Kayamas which was deposited into a bank account belonging to Tadmansori Holdings, a company owned by him.

He is charged with committing the act at CIMB Bank Berhad, Damansara City Center branch, here on June 14, 2016, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years or fine or both, upon conviction.

The trial is set to resume in the afternoon before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. - Mkini