Real estate developer charged with bribing former FT minister
G. Prakash
Malay Mail15 November 2018
Datuk Tan Eng Boon leaves after paying his bail at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex November 15, 2018. — Picture by Ahmad ZamzahuriMore
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Real estate developer Datuk Tan Eng Boon was today charged with bribing former Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor with RM1 million.
Tan claimed trial to the charge under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which was read out to him in Mandarin by the court interpreter.
An alternative charge for the same offence was offered under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
Judge Azura Alwi set bail at RM700,000 to be paid by noon tomorrow with two sureties.
Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram led the prosecution, while Faisal Moideen led the defence team.
Tan, 70, was charged with committing the offence at CIMB Bank’s Pusat Dagangan Dunia branch on Jalan Tun Ismail, where he allegedly handed over the RM1 million cheque to Tengku Adnan.
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 by Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd), which had an official deal with Tengku Adnan’s ministry.
Judge Azura ordered Tan to report to the nearest Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office every month and inform the court seven days prior to leaving the country for anywhere other than Singapore since he travels there often for business and medical reasons.
Tan paid the bail and his two bailors are his son and nephew.
Tan, who has been referred to in past news reports as a “real estate tycoon”, is also the chairman of ceramic products company, Goh Ban Huat Bhd (GBH).
Tan is a shareholder of NipponKey Sdn Bhd with his two sons, Datuk Seri Edwin Tan Pei Seng and Datuk Seri Godwin Tan Pei Poh, holding a 40 and 30 per cent stake respectively.
So who is Tan Eng Boon? He once spent RM6m on his son’s wedding
Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Malay Mail15 November 2018
Datuk Tan Eng Boon leaves the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex November 15, 2018. — Picture by Yusof Mat IsaMore
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — In 2013, he gave his son a Lamborghini valued at S$1.2 million (RM3.65 million) as a wedding present. But that’s not all.
He also paid S$2 million to rent the viewing gallery at Aquarium in Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore for the wedding.
That same man, Datuk Tan Eng Boon, was charged with corruption in relation to the sale of several plots of land owned by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today.
Tan first made ripples in the corporate sector when his sons — through their company Paragon Adventure — conducted a successful takeover of public-listed Goh Ban Huat last year.
Paragon Adventure is owned by Datuk Seri Edwin Tan and Datuk Seri Godwin Tan, and is involved in property developments in Johor.
Tan founded the Joland Group, a private property developer incorporated in 1990, and is seen as among the leading players in the sector.
Joland Group has over the years diversified into property development of high rise and luxury serviced apartments, factories, township developments, retail investments and hospitality and leisure, according to the company’s website.
It currently aims to grow under the brand “Paragon” and is currently developing five ongoing projects in Johor, namely the Paragon Residences @ Straits View, Paragon Suites @ CIQ, Skudai Bizhub, the Paragon Square, a shopping neighbourhood mall at Jalan Tampoi, Johor and Pekan Nenas Industrial Park-Phase II.
