Deputy public prosecutor Lailawati Ali informed the court of this when the case, involving Tan Eng Boon, came up for mention before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi today.

“The prosecution will apply for the case to be transferred to the High Court and will also file an application for it to be jointly tried with a case facing Tengku Adnan as both cases involve the same issue and transaction,” she said.

She also told the court that the case involving Tengku Adnan had been transferred to the High Court here after judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed an application by the Putrajaya MP on the matter last Friday.

Lawyer Cheow Wee, representing Tan, said the defence had taken note of the latest development and requested time to obtain further instructions from their client.

Azura then set Jan 7 for mention.

On Nov 15, Tan, who is a company director, pleaded not guilty to a charge of offering a bribe in the form of RM1 million though a Public Bank cheque belonging to Pekan Nenas Industries Sdn Bhd which was deposited into a CIMB Bank account belonging to Tengku Adnan.

Tan, 70, was alleged to have given the bribe as an inducement to Tengku Adnan for approving an application by Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd) to raise the plot ratio for development at Lot 228, Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Putra World Trade Centre branch of CIMB Bank Bhd at Level 2, Podium Block, Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, on Dec 27, 2013.

Tan was charged under Section 16 (b)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act. If found guilty, he faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five time the amount of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

He also faces an alternative charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code of abetting Tengku Adnan in committing the same offence.