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FORMER Army Chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and his wife Salwani Anuar were formally charged on Thursday at the Kuala Lumpur Special Corruption Court with four counts of money laundering, marking a major development in a wide-ranging investigation into alleged financial misconduct within the armed forces.
Muhammad Hafizuddeain will also face two additional charges at the Shah Alam Corruption Court on Friday, while his wife is set to face a further count at the Jertih Sessions Court in Terengganu next Monday.
In a related case, former Armed Forces Chief Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaafar is scheduled to appear at the Kuala Lumpur Special Corruption Court on Friday, facing two charges under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, relating to abuse of power and investigations into the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT).
He is also expected to face a charge of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 and a separate offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
Salwani Anuar arrived at the Kuala Lumpur court complex in a wheelchair at around 8.20am on Thursday.
The unfolding scandal has been traced through a series of key events:
On 22 December 2025, political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, known as Chegubard, lodged a police report in Dang Wangi, claiming to possess forensic documents showing monthly transfers of tens of thousands of ringgit into accounts belonging to a senior military officer and family members.
The following day, the MACC began investigating defence procurement projects and the Army’s Centre of Responsibility (PTJ) acquisitions dating back to 2023. Three individuals were interviewed on 24 December as bank accounts suspected of involvement in corrupt activities were scrutinised.
On 27 December 2025, Muhammad Hafizuddeain was placed on immediate leave to prevent conflicts of interest during the investigation. By 29 December, six bank accounts believed to belong to the former Army chief and family members were seized.
In early January 2026, MACC detained the former Army chief and two of his wives to assist investigations, seizing luxury assets valued at more than RM2.2 million from a residence in the East Coast, believed to belong to the second wife.
Subsequent actions included further detentions of senior and high-ranking Army officers between 14 and 15 January over allegations of receiving bribes from companies linked to TKAT and the Ministry of Defence.
By 19 January, the MACC submitted its investigation papers to the public prosecutor, who granted approval for the prosecution of two former top military officials.
Thursday’s charges mark the latest step in what has become one of Malaysia’s most high-profile military corruption investigations, highlighting alleged misuse of procurement funds and substantial wealth accumulation by senior officers and family members.
The proceedings continue to attract significant public and media attention, reflecting ongoing concerns over transparency and accountability within Malaysia’s armed forces. - January 22, 2026