Ex-Tabung Haji COO faces another charge of illegally accepting RM8k in house renovation

The former chief operating officer of Tabung Haji has been charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today with illegally accepting RM8,882.77 for house renovations nine years ago, the second time he was indicted for similar offences in two days.

Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani, 56, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before judge Suzana Hussin.

Adi, who was then a public servant as Tabung Haji COO, was charged with accepting for himself something of value, namely renovation costs amounting to RM8,882.77 for a house in Jalan Tanjung SD 13/4, Bandar Sri Damansara, from AG Reka Sdn Bhd director Thamsulazri Ismail, whom the accused knew to have dealings with matters conducted by him.

He was alleged to have committed the offence at the residence on March 7, 2017, under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum two-year jail term or a fine or both upon conviction.

Adi was similarly charged in the Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday with three counts of accepting something of value, namely renovation costs for three houses amounting to RM302,499.27, to which he claimed trial.

MACC deputy public prosecutor Irna Julieza Maaras informed the court of Adi’s charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court, in which bail was set at RM50,000 with conditions, and requested similar bail and conditions in this case.

Irna also said the prosecution will apply to transfer the case to the Shah Alam Sessions Court so all the charges can be heard together.

“Yesterday, the court set bail at RM50,000 with additional conditions that the accused report to the MACC Putrajaya office, not interfere with prosecution witnesses, and surrender his passport to the court until the case is concluded. The Shah Alam Sessions Court also set Nov 25 for mention of the case.

“Therefore, the prosecution is applying for this case to be transferred to the Shah Alam Sessions Court to be heard together as it involves the same witnesses and investigation papers,” she said.

Lawyer Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, representing Adi, said the defence did not object to the prosecution’s transfer application.

“I confirm that the accused was previously charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with three charges. Therefore, we ask the court to apply the bail and bail conditions imposed by that court to this case,” he said.

Suzana allowed the prosecution’s case transfer application and for the bail amount and conditions previously imposed to be applied to this case.

Can of worms

Following the public disclosure of the royal commission of inquiry into the management and operations of Tabung Haji, seven individuals have been charged in court as of today.

They include former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Jamil Khir Baharom, former Tabung Haji chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, former THP Bina Sdn Bhd security and health manager Nasahruddin Ahmad, and Alam Maritim Resources Bhd group managing director and group chief executive officer Azmi Ahmad.

The RCI report was made public on July 29, documenting various weaknesses in the fund’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020, and highlighting troubled investments that require forensic audits.

The report also noted suspicious transactions and concealment of information.

- Bernama

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