Adi Azuan, 56, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Sessions Court judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.
SHAH ALAM: Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani today claimed trial to three charges of allegedly receiving gratification totalling RM302,499.27 in the form of home renovation costs.
Adi Azuan, 56, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Sessions Court judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.
According to the charges, Adi Azuan allegedly received renovation benefits amounting to RM235,866.58, RM50,698.74 and RM15,933.95 for three properties in Shah Alam, Kota Damansara and USJ 2 respectively.
The offences were allegedly committed on March 7, 2017, while Adi Azuan was serving as TH’s COO.
He was accused of receiving the benefits from AG Reka Sdn Bhd director Thamsulazri Ismail, whom he allegedly knew to have dealings connected to his official duties.
Adi Azuan was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum two-year jail term, a fine, or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin proposed bail of RM70,000 with one surety.
However, the court granted Adi Azuan bail of RM50,000 with two Malaysian sureties residing in Selangor or Kuala Lumpur.
The judge also ordered him to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Putrajaya as required, surrender his international passport to the court and refrain from contacting or interfering with prosecution witnesses.
The court fixed Nov 25 for mention and case management.
Adi Azuan was initially scheduled to be charged on Sept 3 but did not appear after his wife, Zureen Zainuddin, informed the court that he had been admitted to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) on Aug 31 after experiencing chest pain.
His lawyer subsequently submitted medical documents from a cardiologist at the hospital to support his absence.
Adi Azuan is among five former senior TH officers named in a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report, which highlighted disciplinary action taken against them over several serious misconduct cases that was subsequently reduced following appeals.
The RCI report identified four key issues, including the disposal of shares in PT TH Indo Plantations, a RM22.12 million contribution to Yayasan Tabung Haji without ministerial approval, the declaration of the 2017 hibah distribution and alleged false claims.
