EX-ARMY CHIEF CHARGED WITH RECEIVING OVER RM2.12 MILLION IN PROCEEDS FROM UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Former Chief of Army Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan was charged in the Sessions Court today with four counts of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to more than RM2.12 million.

Muhammad Hafizuddeain, 58, pleaded not guilty after all four charges were read out to him before Judge Azura Alwi.

“I understand the charges and ask for a trial,” he said after the charges were read out one by one.

He is the first Chief of Army to be charged in court in connection with money laundering cases linked to Malaysian Army (TDM) procurement tenders.

For the first to fourth charges, he was accused of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities, namely RM969,000, RM474,850, RM488,550 and RM190,000, which were deposited into three bank accounts belonging to the accused.

The offences were allegedly committed at three banks at three different locations along Jalan Melaka, Bukit Damansara and the federal capital between Feb 2, 2024 and Nov 7, 2025.

The charges were framed under Subsection 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same Act.

The section provides for, upon conviction, a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the proceeds from the unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Under Ops Parasit, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Jan 7 detained a senior officer and his two wives in connection with army tender procurement projects, with the officer remanded for seven days and his wives remanded for three and six days respectively the following day.

The MACC investigation into the case began on Oct 7, 2025, and is considered sensitive as it involves high-ranking officers and public interest.

On Dec 23, a team of MACC officers arrived at the Defence Ministry to conduct preliminary investigations into several army projects dating back to 2023.

Last Thursday, 23 individuals, including two high-ranking officers and four senior Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) officers, were detained by the MACC to assist in investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power, involving procurement matters and the use of public funds, as well as claims of receiving bribes from several companies, linked to the procurement of supplies for the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT) and the ministry.

Judge Azura granted Muhammad Hafizuddeain bail of RM250,000 in two sureties and ordered him to surrender his passport to the court and report to the MACC office on the first week of every month.

The court set March 30 for mention of the case.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin had proposed bail of RM300,000, with the additional condition that the accused report to the MACC office once a month.

“The accused’s international passport must be surrendered to the court as this case involves very serious matters and there is a likelihood of him absconding. I believe the defence cannot deny that possibility,” he said.

Muhammad Hafizuddeain’s lawyer Aizul Rohan Anuar, did not object to the additional conditions sought by the prosecution, noting that they are a mechanism to ensure the accused’s attendance in court.

However, Aizul Rohan applied for bail of RM100,000, arguing that the prosecution’s proposed amount was excessive.

“The accused served in the military for over 40 years and is now retired, earning a monthly income of RM15,000. All of my client’s bank accounts have been frozen, which would effectively penalise him if a high bail amount is imposed, in addition to the need to provide bail for his wife.

“I suggest that the additional condition requiring him to report to the MACC office be changed to once every two months. I hope the court will take into consideration that he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He has also previously served in Bosnia,” the lawyer said.

Wan Shaharuddin said the prosecution acknowledged the accused’s 40 years of service but maintained that the bail amount offered was reasonable.

“The bail is not to be paid by the accused but by the guarantors. The accused’s third wife will be charged at the Sessions Court, and the bail will be provided by the guarantors, not him. The amount proposed by the prosecution is reasonable and not oppressive,” he said.

At today’s proceedings, Wan Shaharuddin was assisted by deputy public prosecutors Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, Farah Yasmin Salleh, Natrah Fareha, Muhammad Asraf Mohamed Tahir and Maziah Mohaide.

Aizul Rohan was assisted by lawyer Muhammad Kausar Mohd Khairi.

-- BERNAMA