22/08/2026

SATURDAY | AUG 22, 2026

5

Ex-Tabung Haji CEO remanded over RCI related probe o Magistrate issues 7-day order to assist MACC investigation into misuse of investment funds and shares worth RM190 million

Singaporean jailed 14 days for insulting Islam JOHOR BAHRU: A Singaporean security guard was sentenced to 14 days in prison and fined RM7,000 (three months’ jail in default) by the Magistrate’s Court here yesterday after pleading guilty to insulting Islam last month. Magistrate A. Shaarmini ordered Mohamed Anim Atam, 56, to serve the jail term from the date of his arrest last Tuesday. He was charged with deliberately hurting the religious feelings of another person by uttering words insulting Islam, which were overheard by a man. The offence was committed between Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Meldrum here at about 5pm on July 30. He was charged under Section 298 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of one year, a fine, or both. According to the facts of the case, the accused allegedly made insulting remarks about the Quran and Islam while travelling in an e-hailing vehicle. The complainant, who overheard the remarks, subsequently uploaded a video recording of the incident to several social media accounts before lodging a police report on July 31. DPP Eizlan Azhar urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, noting that the case involved 3R issues. Mohamed Anim, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a lenient sentence citing ongoing divorce proceedings, which required his attendance at the Syariah Court in Singapore. He was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Division of the South Johor Bahru district police headquarters, with assistance from Singapore police. – Bernama Two cyclists killed in crash with vehicle PUTRAJAYA: Two cyclists died after being hit by a vehicle at Km9 of Jalan Persiaran Selatan in Putrajaya on Thursday night, said district police chief ACP Aidi Sham Mohamed. In a statement yesterday, Aidi Sham said the crash occurred at 10.15pm, involving a vehicle driven by a local man in his 40s and two male cyclists aged in their 40s and 30s. “Initial investigations found that the driver of the vehicle had changed direction from the middle lane to the left lane before hitting the two cyclists.” He said investigations were ongoing under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. He urged individuals with information on the incident to contact the Putrajaya traffic police station at 03-8886 2138 or any police station. – Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: A former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) CEO has been remanded for seven days to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into the misappropriation of TH investment funds and shares worth approximately RM190 million, following revelations in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on TH. Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah issued the remand order, effective yesterday until next Thursday, following an application by MACC at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. The man, who is in his 60s, was among the most senior figures to have held a top management position at TH. MACC had previously detained and recorded statements from Department has busted a syndicate believed to be involved in online scams, including love scams and the sale of counterfeit goods, with 21 people arrested in an operation at the KL International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan on Wednesday. Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said in a statement yesterday the syndicate, believed to have been operating since early this year, used a luxury residence in a secluded area of a housing estate in Nilai as its operations centre and is believed to have made up to US$50,000 (RM210,000). Operations Force (GOF) cracked down on illegal sand mining activities after raiding seven separate locations in three states through Op Gali Mega, with a total seizure value estimated at RM13.26 million. GOF Central Brigade commander SAC Hakemal Hawari said the operation began at 11am on Wednesday, covering the areas of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

He said the operation initially resulted in the arrest of a local man believed to be a syndicate member and two Chinese nationals, a man and a woman aged 50 and 53 at KLIA. “Preliminary investigations found that the syndicate facilitated the entry of foreign nationals into Malaysia, targeting Chinese nationals believed to have been blacklisted by the Immigration Department. “The blacklisted suspects are believed to have possessed two Chinese passports with different passport numbers. The Chinese passport that the Immigration Department did not blacklist was used to pass through the e-Gate at KLIA,” he said, adding that He said a total of 31 individuals were checked in the operation, with 15 of them arrested for various offences. Hakemal said the latest raid at 3.30pm on Thursday targeted an illegal operation site covering an area of 0.647ha at Lot PT 89, Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang Lama, which is believed to be processing sand without approval. He said the operation was carried out in an integrated manner with the seven individuals to assist in the investigation. The seven are a former CEO of a shipping company, a construction company director, a former company director and four former senior TH management staff. The RCI report on TH, uploaded to the Islamic Development Malaysia Department official portal on July 29, recommended, among other things, a forensic audit into past investment decisions that contributed to a significant decline in the asset value of the institution, Bernama reported. The 211-page report, which examined TH’s management and operational issues from 2014 to 2020, also identified several problematic investments for further forensic audit.

The former Tabung Haji CEO arriving at the Magistrate’s Court in Putrajaya yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

The inquiry found evidence of suspicious transactions and concealment of information. Among those named in the report were former ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof Rawa, as well as former TH chairmen Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez inspections of the belongings of the two suspects uncovered blacklisted Chinese passports. He said the local man is believed to have acted as a driver for the Chinese nationals, transporting them to designated locations. “The operation team searched a residential premises in Taman Desa Melati in Nilai and arrested the alleged masterminds, two Chinese men, a Chinese woman and a Russian woman,” he said. The operation also led to the arrest of 13 alleged syndicate members, comprising nine Chinese men and one Chinese woman, as well as one man each from Vanuatu and Pakistan and one woman each cooperation of the Selangor Water Management Board, Immigration Department and the Land and Mines Office. “The raid at the site resulted in the arrest of 12 people consisting of five local men and seven foreign men. “The operation team also seized 1,500 tonnes of sand, heavy machinery and sand washing and processing equipment with an estimated value of RM5 million at

Abdul Rahim and Tan Sri Md Nor Md Yusof. Also mentioned were former TH CEOs Tan Sri Ismee Ismail and Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah. The RCI scope covered issues relating to TH between 2014 and 2020, with reference to findings by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and Roland Berger.

Love scam and counterfeit goods ring busted PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration

from India and Myanmar. Zakaria said the detained foreign nationals, aged 23 to 33, had initially been found to have entered Malaysia on social visit passes. He said the syndicate allegedly used Telegram and WhatsApp to target overseas victims. Zakaria said the local man and

four alleged masterminds were detained for suspected offences under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the other foreign nationals were detained for suspected offences under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. – Bernama Illegal sand mining crackdown results in RM13 million seizures SHAH ALAM: The General

this location alone,” he said after visiting the illegal site after the raid on Thursday night. Hakemal said the sand is believed to be brought in from outside areas, including construction site waste, to be washed and processed into fine sand, before being sold at a price of about RM500 to RM600 per lorry. He said the sand processing activities also released soil washing waste directly into a nearby river. – Bernama

‘Datuk’ among five remanded over land sale linked to power abuse GEORGE TOWN: The Magistrate’s Court here granted a four-day remand order for five individuals, including the chairman of a government agency with the title of Datuk, to assist in an investigation into suspected abuse of position involving the disposal of land. Magistrate Noor Idayu Salim issued the remand order yesterday following an application by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC). The four other suspects comprise two company directors, a technical manager and a female clerk. They were detained by MACC between 11am and noon on Thursday while they were at the commission’s office to have their statements recorded. The agency chairman, who is in his 50s, is alleged to have abused his position as deputy chairman and board member in 2015 to approve the sale of eight plots of land in South Seberang Perai to a company believed to be owned by an associate. He is also alleged to have approved the sale at below-market

value, resulting in an estimated loss of RM1.96 million. MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests, saying the case was being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009. – Bernama