A government backbencher today asked why Bersatu’s Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad had been allowed to keep RM5.8 million in bribes after paying a compound which led to his acquittal of graft and money laundering charges.
Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) also questioned the direction of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in handling graft cases after the Segambut Bersatu deputy chief was freed upon paying RM4.1 million.
She cited another case involving an elected representative and his aide who were not charged despite being nabbed for hoarding millions of ringgit in a house.
According to Kok, the elected representative, whom she did not identify, had paid a fine.
“Is this the direction the AGC is taking, where the AGC would not charge anyone for corruption if the offender returned the money?” Kok asked while debating the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the committee stage in Dewan Rakyat.
Adam Radlan was charged in February 2023 with five counts of soliciting and accepting up to RM9.9 million in bribes to help two companies secure projects linked to the Perikatan Nasional government’s Jana Wibawa programme, an economic empowerment initiative for Bumiputera contractors launched during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also faced seven charges of laundering more than RM3 million.
On Aug 20, he was acquitted of all 12 charges after the prosecution accepted his offer to pay a compound under Section 92(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 200.
Last night, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said that Adam Radlan was freed by the court after the prosecution exercised its discretion to withdraw the corruption and money laundering charges against him following his payment of the compound.
