SHAH ALAM: Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani has claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to three charges of graft amounting to RM302,499.27 linked to home renovations.
Adi Azuan (pic), 56, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud yesterday.
According to the charges, Adi, in his capacity as the TH chief operating officer, received for himself a valuable item, which was the cost of home renovations for three houses at three different locations.
The home renovations – valued at RM235,866.58, RM50,698.74 and RM15,933.95 – were received from AG Reka Sdn Bhd director Thamsulazri Ismail whom the accused knew was connected to his official duty.
The offences were allegedly committed at the locations of the three homes in Shah Alam, Kota Damansara and USJ2 on March 7, 2017.
The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code which carries imprisonment of up to two years, a fine or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin told the court that the case involved non-bailable offences.
He, however, proposed a RM70,000 bail with one surety should the court exercised its discretion to grant bail.
“We leave it to the court’s discretion if it decides to impose additional bail conditions,” said Muaz.
Lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin asked for a lower bail of RM30,000.
He said his client has to support four sons aged between 12 and 25 who are still schooling, with the eldest being in university.
Wan Azwan also asked for the court not to order the accused to surrender his passport.
Awang Kerisnada fixed bail at RM50,000 with two sureties and ordered the accused to surrender his passport to the court.
“If he needs to use his passport, he can write to the court,” Awang Kerisnada said.
The case is set for mention on Nov 25.
Adi Azuan was initially scheduled to appear before the court on Sept 3 but the proceedings were postponed due to his hospitalisation for an angiogram.
