Former Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Datuk Seri Azeez Abdul Rahim claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today to 12 charges of corruption and money laundering in government projects worth RM144.5 million.
- Azeez facing 3 charges of accepting bribes worth RM5.2m, jail term of up to 20 years and fine of up to 5 times amount of bribe if convicted
- Also 9 charges for money laundering of RM139.34m, facing jail term of up to 15 years and RM5m fine
- Latif charged with abetting Azeez on two counts in obtaining RM4m bribe
- Bail of RM800k for Azeez, RM500k for Latif
Azeez was slapped with three charges of receiving bribes worth RM5.2 million under Section 16 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, and nine for money laundering worth RM139.34 million under Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
He was accused of accepting RM5.2 million from Mohammad Redzuan Mohanan Abdullah, the director of Syarikat Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd, in the Klang Valley between December 2010 and April last year.
The money allegedly paid to Azeez was said to be an inducement to allow Menuju Asas to obtain RM842.3 million worth of road upgrade projects in Kedah and Perak through direct negotiations.
The money laundering offences, meanwhile, were said to have occurred between March 2010 and August last year.
Azeez, who is the Baling Member of Parliament, was accused of receiving RM139.34 million from four companies, namely Syarikat Menuju Asas, Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd, Pintas Utama Sdn Bhd and AVP Engineering Sdn Bhd.
If found guilty of receiving the bribe, he could face a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of up to five times the amount received.
For the money laundering offences, he faces a jail term of up to 15 years and RM5 million fine, if convicted.
Azeez’s older brother, Datuk Latif Abdul Rahim, was accused of abetting him on two counts in obtaining an RM4 million bribe, part of the RM5.2 million allegedly received by the Umno Supreme Council member. He claimed trial to both charges.
If convicted, he, too, faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the amount received.
Fiat prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram sought for the bribery and money laundering charges to be heard together. The prosecution also sought RM800,000 bail for Azeez and RM500,000 for Latif, to be paid by today, and asked that their passports be surrendered to the court pending their trial.
The siblings’ lawyer, Hisyam Teh, told Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi that they agreed to the bail amount.
Azura allowed Azeez and Latif to post their bail with one surety each. She also ordered them to surrender their passports to the court pending the disposal of their cases.
Case mention will be held on March 27.
Sri Ram also told the court that the prosecution would be transferring the siblings’ case to the High Court and that there was no objection from the defence lawyers.
Azeez, Latif and their cousin were arrested in September last year for an investigation into corruption and money-laundering offences.
The MACC raided Azeez’s houses and offices in the Klang Valley and Baling and seized RM500,000 for investigation purposes.
Azeez, 52, previously claimed that the money was part of his Umno allocation as well as from Kelab Putera 1Malaysia.
The two brothers were arrested at 4.30pm yesterday when they presented themselves at the MACC headquarters.
They were brought to court this morning in a Proton Preve and Toyota Fortuner, escorted by a police patrol car and two motorcycles.
Earlier report: Jan 15, Ex-Tabung Haji Chairman Azeez Arrested Again