Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani has claimed trial to three charges of receiving valuable items as a public servant involving house renovation costs totalling RM302,499.27, Astro Awani reported.
Adi Azuan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court today before Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.
The charges relate to renovation works at three properties in Shah Alam, Kota Damansara and Subang Jaya, costing RM235,866.58, RM50,698.74 and RM15,933.95 respectively.
According to the charges, Adi Azuan allegedly received the renovation works from Thamsulazri Ismail, a director of AG Reka Sdn Bhd, who was known to have dealings with him in his capacity as TH chief operating officer.
The offences were allegedly committed at the three properties on March 7, 2017.
Adi Azuan was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of two years, a fine or both upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin sought bail of RM70,000 with additional conditions.
His lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin requested bail of RM30,000, citing Adi Azuan’s responsibility for four children who are studying at universities and schools.
The court subsequently set bail at RM50,000 and ordered him to report to the MACC office in Putrajaya, refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses and surrender his passport to the court.
The case will be mentioned again on Nov 25.
The proceedings had previously been postponed on Sept 3 after the defence informed the court that Adi Azuan had been admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre since Aug 31 for a heart-related condition.
Adi Azuan was previously remanded for four days by MACC in December 2018 to assist investigations into allegations that an interior design contractor linked to TH had been used for renovation work at his homes.
The charges follow the publication of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into TH on July 29, which identified Adi Azuan among five senior officers who faced disciplinary proceedings linked to issues at the institution.
The RCI report covered various weaknesses in TH’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020, as well as problematic investments that required forensic audits.
The report also highlighted alleged suspicious transactions and concealment of information.
The latest case brings the number of individuals charged in court following disclosures from the RCI report to seven.
