Four-day remand for Baling MP Abdul Azeez, two others

PUTRAJAYA: Former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Rahim has been remanded for four days by the magistrate's court here over alleged bribery and money laundering activities.

Magistrate Shah Wira Abdul Halim allowed the application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for the Umno supreme council member to be held until Sept 29 to assist investigations.

The magistrate also allowed Abdul Azeez's brother Abdul Latiff and their cousin Mohamad Nazri Osman, 36, to be remanded for four days.

The three were brought to the court complex in two MACC cars at 10.30am in handcuff and orange MACC lock-up outfit.

Abdul Azeez and Abdul Latiff did not attempt to hide their faces, and, in fact, smiled at their supporters who were present in the dozens at the court.

Mohamad Nazri, however, covered his face from photographers.

The supporters, who came as early as 8am, shouted "Hidup Azeez!", "Hidup Baling!" and "Allahuakbar!" as the trio were whisked away into the courtrooms.

Abdul Azeez, who is Baling MP, was arrested at 11.15am Tuesday by the MACC, after he arrived at the headquarters to give a statement.

Abdul Latiff was detained in Sungai Buloh at 11.30am.

The cousin was arrested in the evening at the commission's headquarters after he showed up to give a statement.

According to the trio's lawyer, S. Devanandan, MACC is investigating the three over the alleged awarding of contracts related to Tabung Haji.

On May 23, the MACC raided Abdul Azeez's homes and offices and seized RM500,000 in cash, 20 watches and several pieces of jewellery.

The former Tabung Haji chairman claimed that part of the money was from his Umno allocation while the foreign currencies seized were from Kelab Putera 1Malaysia (KP1M).