Three former Tabung Haji officials, including ex-chairman Abdul Azeez, have been remanded over a police investigation into alleged hibah fraud.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and two former senior officials of the pilgrim fund have been remanded for two days to assist a police investigation into an alleged fraud case involving the granting of hibah.
The remand order was issued by Sessions Court Judge Mohamad Afiq Zuber, who exercised the powers of a Magistrate, following an application by the police.
Besides Abdul Azeez, 60, the two others remanded were a former Tabung Haji chief executive officer and a former chief financial officer.
Abdul Azeez was arrested by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) at Bukit Aman yesterday afternoon before being taken to the Dang Wangi police station.
His lawyer, Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, said his client had been remanded until Thursday to assist investigations into the alleged fraud involving hibah.
“The police sought a remand order under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” he said.
Abdul Azeez, who is also the Baling MP, was believed to have been brought into the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex through an internal route, avoiding members of the media who had gathered outside since 7am.
His son, Mohamed Khairul Azman, and several Umno leaders were also seen at the court complex.
The investigation is understood to be related to matters highlighted in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji.
Abdul Azeez had previously been remanded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for seven days from Aug 26 to assist investigations arising from the RCI findings.
The RCI report, which was made public on July 29, highlighted weaknesses in Tabung Haji’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020.
Abdul Azeez served as Tabung Haji chairman from 2014 to 2018.
The latest police probe comes after the MACC opened investigation papers into several matters highlighted in the RCI report.
