Datuk Tan Eng Boon pleaded not guilty to bribing former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and abetting him five years ago.
Tan, 70, was accused at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today (Nov 15) of giving Tengku Adnan, 68, RM1 million via a Public Bank cheque belonging to Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd, which was deposited into the latter’s CIMB bank account.
Tan allegedly made the payment on 27 Dec 2013 as a “reward” to Tengku Adnan for approving an application 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 is the chairman of the Joland Group.
Its subsidiary Paragon City Development has a mixed-development project in Jalan Semarak which features a shopping mall, a five-star hotel, and two serviced apartment buildings.
Tan claimed trial to the charge framed under section 16(b)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which carries a prison term of up to 20 years and a fine of up to RM10,000.
In an alternative charge, Tan was also accused of abetting Tengku Adnan (of corruption) on the same date.
This offence is punishable under section 109 read together with section 165 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, Tan can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
Judge Azura Alwi allowed bail at RM700,000 in two sureties.
The court also ordered for Tan to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office nearest to his residence every month until the case is over.
Tan was not told to surrender his passport, but he was ordered to provide the court with an itinerary for any travels to destinations other than Singapore a week before the intended travel.
The case is fixed for mention on Dec 12.
Tan was already in the courtroom when reporters began making their way in and it is unclear how and when he arrived in the compound undetected.