KUALA LUMPUR: After months of investigation, social media influencer Alif Teega has been charged with embezzling funds intended for religious charity programmes.
Alif, whose full name is Mohd Hazalif Mohd Hazani, claimed trial before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi to two charges of dishonestly misappropriating RM63,605.48.
According to the first charge, Alif, 30, misappropriated RM36,047.35 meant as donations to fund breaking of fast programmes in Mecca, Syria and Palestine at CIMB Bank, KL Gateway, on April 26.
The second charge involved RM27,558.13 intended for the “Jom! Sertai Infaq Daging Qurban” programme. He allegedly misappropriated this amount at the same bank on June 15.
He was charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of four months to five years in prison, whipping and a fine, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh offered bail at between RM50,000 and RM100,000 for the two charges and requested that Alif surrender his passport to the court and report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) until the case is resolved.
Lawyer Mohd Shahrullah Khan informed the court that his client is facing financial difficulties and could only afford RM10,000 for bail, as his assets had been frozen by the MACC.
“He was told yesterday that he would be charged today, and neither he nor his elder brother, who would act as the bailor, could raise enough money,” Mohd Shahrullah said.
He added that Alif had cooperated with the MACC throughout the investigation. Regarding the passport, Mohd Shahrullah noted that the anti-graft body is still holding it, indicating no risk of Alif absconding.
In response, Farah Yasmin argued that the proposed RM10,000 bail did not reflect the severity of the offences.
“The bail sum we proposed is reasonable, but we leave it to the court’s discretion,” she said.
Azura set bail at RM50,000 in one surety and ordered Alif to report to the MACC headquarters monthly, in addition to surrendering his passport to the court.
The next mention of the case was scheduled for Oct 21.
Alif’s 26-year-old wife Aisyah Hijanah Azhari appeared protective of him as they entered the courtroom and she stayed throughout the proceedings.
Afterward, she expressed their intention to cooperate fully with the authorities.
“We will give our fullest cooperation until the case concludes,” Aisyah said briefly.
Mohd Shahrullah later confirmed that Alif had posted bail.
On July 11, Alif and Aisyah were remanded for seven days to assist in the investigation into the misappropriation of funds collected from public donations.
mStar Online reported that Aisyah had filed for divorce from Alif at the Gombak Timur Lower Syariah Court in August.
The influencer couple drew significant attention after it was made known that Alif had taken a second wife while Aisyah was pregnant with their third child last year.
