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KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Photo) He has been sentenced to 12 months in jail and fined RM2mil by the High Court after he was found guilty in his RM2mil corruption case.
Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, in his sentencing, said he was inclined to follow precedence in previous cases and cited the corruption case of former Selangor mentri besar, Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo, who was imprisoned for a year.
“The accused is sentenced to 12 months and a fine of RM2 thousand. In case of non-compliance, he would have to serve another six months. The sentence will run from the date of the trial,” he said here on Monday (December 21).
The judge noted that Tengku Adnan was not the first high-ranking politician and public official to be convicted of a crime.
“There have been others. They are all equal before the law. I have no doubt that he has served the country for many years, but the sentence should reflect the crime and deter others,” Judge Zaini said.
Tengku Adnan’s lawyer, Datuk Tan Hock Chuan, requested the stay of the execution of both sentences and the judge allowed it.
Earlier, Tan claimed that his client was a first-time offender and was contributing significantly to the nation.
“He has served in the Cabinet and Parliament for a period of 17 years. The crime in this case is not heinous,” he said during the mitigation.
Tan asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence, but a fine of less than RM2,000 for his client to retain his post as a Putrajaya MP.
He said the court should consider the slim majority in parliament where the current government would be affected if the defendant were disqualified from his post as deputy.
Judge Zaini then asked the lawyer if the court should be concerned about political development in the country.
Tan replied that for the purposes of the court’s findings in the case, political development should not be a concern, but for sentencing purposes, the court’s decision would have effect.
“The court can take judicial note. We say that it is a factor that the court can consider. The effect is not isolated but cumulative with others,” he added.
Tan informed the court that his client has hypertension and high cholesterol and has been taking medication for a long time.
“We beg that justice be mitigated with mercy so that there is no custodial sentence,” he added.
Deputy Prosecutor Julia Ibrahim, however, objected and said that the sentence requested by the defense was inappropriate in the case.
“In the defendant’s own words, RM2mil is only pocket money for him. The sentence must be a deterrent so that other people do not repeat it.
“The court should not impose a fine of less than RM2,000 in a case involving RM2mil, which is pocket money for the defendants,” he said.
DPP Julia said that MPs “come and go” and that for each general election or by-election, there would be changes in the seats.
Judge Zaini then asked the prosecution what was the appropriate amount for a fine, and DPP Julia said “no less than the amount that was charged.”
He also gave an example of the corruption case of former Selangor mentri kissing Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo, who was sentenced to one year in prison for corruption in 2011.
So, Tan stood up to reply that what he was most concerned about was the age and health of his client.
“My main reason for asking the court not to impose a custodial sentence is not disqualification. It is your age and your health,” he said.
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