Malaysian MP Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor cleared of corruption after appeal court overturns conviction

The former Umno secretary general was among the handful of top leaders put on trial following the party’s shock defeat in the 2018 general election

He can now walk free after the Court of Appeal overturned his earlier conviction in a US$476,000 corruption case following a majority 2-1 decision

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Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor pictured in 2007 during his time as Malaysia’s tourism minister. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:46pm, 16 Jul 2021Updated: 9:53pm, 16 Jul 2021

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, a former top lieutenant of ex-Malaysian leader Najib Razak, on Friday became the latest political figure in the country to be absolved of corruption charges after an appellate court quashed an earlier conviction.

The former secretary general of the powerful United Malays National Organisation (Umno) was among the handful of top leaders – including Najib – who were put on trial following the party’s shock defeat in the 2018 general election.

The party returned to power last year after it struck a power-sharing deal with other parties to overthrow the Pakatan Harapan alliance that won the 2018 poll.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives at Kuala Lumpur High Court in May. Photo: Bernama/DPA

Najib, prime minister from 2009 to 2018, as well as his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are both currently on trial in separate corruption-related cases.

Najib has already been sentenced to 12 years jail in the first of several cases linking him to the 1MDB financial scandal. He is appealing the verdict.