Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani has pleaded not guilty to three graft charges involving a total sum of RM302,499.27 related to home renovations. The trial commenced on Thursday at the Sessions Court in Shah Alam before Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.

The charges allege that Adi Azuan, during his tenure as TH's chief operating officer, accepted valuable items amounting to the costs of renovating three separate residences. These renovations, valued respectively at RM235,866.58, RM50,698.74, and RM15,933.95, were reportedly provided by Thamsulazri Ismail, director of AG Reka Sdn Bhd, a company connected to the accused’s official duties. The alleged offenses occurred on March 7, 2017, at the locations of the three homes in Shah Alam, Kota Damansara, and USJ2.

The charges were brought under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which addresses the acceptance of gratification for official acts and stipulates penalties that include imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both upon conviction.

During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin informed the court that the offenses are categorized as non-bailable. Nevertheless, he proposed bail at RM70,000 with one surety should the court opt to grant it, leaving the matter to judicial discretion.

In response, defense counsel Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin requested a reduced bail amount of RM30,000, citing Adi Azuan’s responsibility to support four sons between the ages of 12 and 25, with the eldest currently attending university. Additionally, Wan Azwan petitioned the court not to impose a surrender of the accused’s passport.

Judge Awang Kerisnada ultimately set bail at RM50,000 with two sureties and ordered Adi Azuan to surrender his passport to the court. The judge noted that the accused could apply to the court should he require the use of his travel document.

Adi Azuan was previously scheduled to appear on September 3, but the hearing was deferred due to his hospitalization for an angiogram. The case has been set for a mention on November 25.