KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 7): The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRB) has launched investigations into individuals named in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) after finding mismatches between their assets and reported income.
In a media statement on Friday (Aug 7), IRB said the investigations were initiated based on tax risk analysis, which found discrepancies between the assets owned by the individuals concerned and the income they declared.
The tax authority said it has conducted raids at several related premises to obtain information, review documents and verify facts related to the ongoing investigations.
However, IRB did not identify the individuals under investigation, disclose how many people are involved, or quantify the discrepancies between their assets and declared income. It also did not state when the raids were conducted.
IRB said that all review and investigation procedures are being carried out professionally, with integrity and in accordance with the prevailing tax laws, without prejudice to any party.
It also said that any further action will only be decided after information and evidence gathered during the investigation have been thoroughly assessed.
The latest announcement comes after the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) published the 211-page Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji on July 29, detailing its findings into the pilgrimage fund's management and operations between 2014 and 2020.
Following the report's release, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched its own investigation and made several arrests linked to the RCI findings.
On Aug 4, the anti-graft agency detained the former chief executive officer and former chief financial officer of a company owned by a statutory body over the alleged abuse of power in the acquisition of shares in two plantation companies worth RM370 million. The two men, aged 68 and 60, were detained after giving their statements at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
The same day, the MACC also arrested a former estate manager of a rubber sapling supply company on suspicion of misappropriating a rubber sapling supply contract worth about RM8 million for subsidiaries of a statutory body in the plantation sector, as well as three individuals — including a deputy general manager for construction, an occupational safety and health manager, and a project director of a property company that is a subsidiary of a statutory body — over the alleged misappropriation of about RM450,000 in Notice of Penalty (NOP) charges.
All three cases are being investigated by the special task force set up to examine the RCI's findings.
Separately, police have opened five investigation papers after receiving nine reports lodged by Tabung Haji, its subsidiary and members of the public over alleged commercial crimes linked to the RCI report.
Read also:
Tabung Haji to study NGO's 10 proposals, continue RCI reform efforts
MACC concludes grilling of ex-CFO of statutory body over Tabung Haji RCI findings
MACC detains ex-estate manager in RM8 mil Tabung Haji RCI-linked contract probe
MACC arrests former CEO, CFO in Tabung Haji RCI-linked probe into RM370 mil share acquisition — Bernama
MACC remands three more over alleged RM450,000 Notice of Penalty misappropriation
Tabung Haji RCI: Former CFO of statutory body company questioned by MACC
MACC forms task force to examine legal issues in Tabung Haji following RCI report release
RCI recommends forensic audits into 14 troubled Tabung Haji investments
RCI uncovers tens of millions of ringgit in excessive bonuses provision in Tabung Haji
Politics shaped key decisions at Tabung Haji — RCI
Urusharta Jamaah was the least disruptive option for Tabung Haji rescue, but risks remain — RCI
'Creative accounting' propped up Tabung Haji's high hibah payouts — RCI
Tabung Haji RCI: Police, MACC reports filed; managers faced dismissal but stayed after appeals
PM wants debate on Tabung Haji RCI report in Parliament ‘as soon as possible’
Anwar vows action against those responsible for Tabung Haji losses
Anwar says Tabung Haji royal inquiry report release pending procedures, abuses uncovered
Cover Story: Urusharta Jamaah and the legacy assets
Cover Story: Putting Tabung Haji in order