BUSINESSMAN Tan Eng Boon has been charged with bribing former Federal Territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor over a land deal in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur, two years ago.

The 70-year-old Tan is accused of giving Tengku Adnan, who is also Putrajaya MP, a cheque for RM1 million.

The court heard that the cheque was issued by Tan under Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd for increasing the density of a plot of land in Jalan Semarak for development for Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd), which had an official deal with Tengku Adnan’s ministry.

Tan claimed trial to the charge under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, which carries a prison term of up to 20 years and a fine of up to RM10,000.

There was also an alternative charge offered, which could see him jailed for up to two years.

Judge Azura Alwi set bail at RM700,00 with two sureties. The judge also ordered Tan to report to the nearest Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office every month.

The court did not ask Tan to surrender his passport, but he was ordered to inform the court of his travel plans.

The case is set for remention on December 12.

Paragon City is a mixed-development project, housing a shopping mall, a five-star hotel and serviced apartments. – November 15, 2018.