Corruption trial: Abdul Azeez's wife, children are shareholders, directors of companies - Witness

The High Court was told today that the wife and children of former Tabung Haji chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim are shareholders and directors in four companies investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for his corruption and money laundering cases.

Companies Commission of Malaysia assistant registrar Muhamad Akmaludin Abdullah, 37, said he had received a letter from the MACC headquarters requesting to obtain information on the four companies on Aug 10, 2018, to facilitate investigation of the cases.

The companies are Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd, Azman Azeez Properties (M) Sdn Bhd, Azeera Management Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd and Azeera Properties (M) Sdn Bhd.

The second prosecution witness said a search for information for all the companies revealed that Abdul Azeez and his wife, Khadijah Mohd Noor are the shareholders in the four companies.

Muhamad Akmaludin also said further search disclosed that the couple’s children - Mohamed Khairul Anwar, Mohamed Khairul Azman, Khaleeda Azwa, and Khaleeda Azeera, also held positions in the companies.

“Azman Azeez Properties Sdn Bhd was established on May 11, 2006 as a business property development company with a capital of RM1.9 million. The director is Mohamad Khairul Azman while the shareholder is Abdul Azeez himself,” he said.

He said this when reading out his witness statement on the first day of the corruption trial of Abdul Azeez, 53 who was charged with accepting bribes totalling RM5.2 million in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah, and nine counts of money laundering, involving nearly RM140 million.

His brother, Datuk Abdul Latif Abdul Rahim, 62 was accused of abetting with Abdul Azeez.

Meanwhile, the witness also testified that Mohamad Khairul Anwar and Mohamad Khairul Azman are the directors of the Azeera Management Consultants firm.

“The company conducts business management consultancy and general trade. Abdul Azeez and Khadijah are the company's shareholders, " he said.

The prosecution also called two more witnesses today, car dealer Zagma Sdn Bhd’s sales manager Yap Boon Seong and Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation's (Yapeim) legal and secretariat division head Adawiah Sahmad.

Abdul Azeez was represented by lawyers M. Athimulan and Hisyam Teh Poh Teik while Datuk Jaharberdeen Mohamed Yunoos acted on behalf of Abdul Latif.

The charges against Abdul Azeez were allegedly committed at CIMB Bank, Jalan Tun Perak in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8, 2010, and Affin Bank, Pusat Bandar Puchong in Selangor on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.

He is accused of committing the money laundering offences in the Klang Valley area between March 8, 2010, and August 30, 2018.

The corruption charges were made under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 while the money laundering charges were made under Section 4 (1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Abdul Latif is accused of abetting with his brother in obtaining a RM4 million bribe from Mohammad Redzuan Mohanan Abdullah, director of Syarikat Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd as gratification to help the company to secure road projects through limited tender from the Works Ministry.

The project involved Pantai Baru Coastal Expressway Project, upgrading works of Federal Road FT005 (Teluk Intan to Kampung Lekir, Perak) valued at RM644,480,000.

The offence was allegedly committed at Affin Bank Berhad, J-03-G, Block J, Setiawalk, Persiaran Wawasan, Pusat Bandar Puchong, Petaling, Selangor, on June 13, 2017, and April 10, 2018.

The charges were framed under Section 16(a)(A) and Section 28 (1) © of the MACC Act 2009.

The trial before Judge Azura Alwi continues on Sept 7.

-- BERNAMA