KUALA TERENGGANU: Salwani Anuar@Kamaruddin, the wife of former army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, was charged at the Sessions Court here today with receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM5,000 last year.
The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Mohd Azhar Othman.
"I plead not guilty and request to be tried,” she said after the charge was read out before the judge.
Based on the charge, Salwani is alleged to have received proceeds from illegal activities in the form of RM5,000, which was deposited into her bank account.
The offence was allegedly committed at a bank branch in Kerteh near Besut on Jan 16, 2025.
The charge against Salwani was framed under Subsection 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613) and is punishable under the same provision.
If convicted, she faces imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the proceeds from the unlawful activities at the time it was committed, or RM5mil, whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Maziah Mohaide offered to apply the same bail terms previously granted by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, namely RM30,000 in two sureties, subject to conditions that the accused report to the nearest MACC office monthly and surrender her international passport to the court.
"As the prosecution will apply for this case to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to be tried together with the accused's earlier case and her husband's (Muhammad Hafizuddeain) case, therefore, no objection to applying the same bail today," she said.
Defence counsel Fahmi Abd Moin said the defence had no objection and agreed to the bail terms proposed by the prosecution.
The court then granted bail on the same terms as those previously imposed by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, with similar conditions.
The judge also fixed March 30 for mention and allowed the case to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to be tried together with the earlier case involving Salwani.
On Jan 22, Salwani pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to a similar charge involving RM77,000 and was granted bail of RM30,000 in two sureties by Judge Rosli Ahmad.
On the same day, her husband, Muhammad Hafizuddeain, 58, was charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on four counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities amounting to more than RM2.12mil.
He was subsequently charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court last Friday on two additional counts involving RM145,000 for the same offence.
On Jan 7, the MACC, through Ops Parasit, arrested a high-ranking armed forces officer and his two wives in connection with investigations into tender procurement of army projects.
The following day, the officer was remanded for seven days, while his two wives were remanded for three and six days respectively.
The MACC investigation into the case began on Oct 7, 2025, and is classified as sensitive as it involves high-ranking officials and matters of public interest.
On Dec 23, 2025, a team of MACC officers arrived at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to conduct preliminary investigations into several Army-related projects dating back to 2023.
Meanwhile, Fahmi, when met by reporters after the court proceedings, said his client, who is suffering from a chronic boil on her thigh, is expected to return to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow or Wednesday to undergo a medical procedure to remove the boil.
Earlier, Salwani, who entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, was seen making her way to the dock and listening to the charges being read while seated. - Bernama
