KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 8): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is set to charge former Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim on Wednesday over the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the institution.
According to the MACC, Abdul Azeez’s case will be heard before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi at 9am.
He will be the most high-profile person charged over the RCI findings.
On Sept 3, two former managers of TH Properties, Nasahruddin Ahmad, 56, and Tengku Kamaruddin, 55, claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to charges of criminal breach of trust and abetment for allegedly pocketing RM72,000 in penalties imposed on contractors.
Former Tabung Haji chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani, who was also set to be charged on the same day at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, was hospitalised for heart-related treatment at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Sessions Court judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud subsequently fixed Sept 24 for Adi Azuan to appear in court to face the charges.
Abdul Azeez was among former senior Tabung Haji management and board members, including a former chief executive officer, a former Treasury secretary general and former Islamic affairs minister Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who were remanded by the MACC over allegations arising from the RCI.
The RCI report, made public on July 29, documented various management and operational weaknesses involving Tabung Haji between 2014 and 2020, and identified several problematic investments requiring a forensic audit.
The report also highlighted evidence of suspicious transactions and the concealment of information.
Abdul Azeez, a former Baling member of Parliament, was acquitted of nine charges in 2022 — three for corruption and six for money laundering.
The acquittal was granted after the prosecution did not object to his application. His lawyer said the MACC had completed its investigation and decided to take no further action against him, with all seized assets and property returned.
Abdul Azeez was initially charged with three counts of accepting RM5.2 million in bribes and 10 money-laundering charges involving RM972,414.60, linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah between September 2010 and April 2018.
Four of the money-laundering charges had earlier been struck out by the Court of Appeal.
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