KUALA LUMPUR: Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has been charged at the Sessions Court here with using his position to secure the chairmanship of a company and influencing TH board members to approve a proposed RM193.5mil investment in it 12 years ago.
Azeez, 59, who is also the former Baling member of Parliament, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before judge Azura Alwi on Wednesday (Sept 9).
"(The charge is) Understood... the allegation is completely untrue and a trial is requested," he said.
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Azeez is accused of using his position as TH chairman to obtain gratification in the form of the chairmanship of Putrajaya Perdana Berhad, with remuneration of RM690,000 annually, as well as the use of a luxury car and a permanent driver.
He allegedly instructed then TH chief executive officer Tan Sri Ismee Ismail to propose his name as TH's representative on the company's board.
Azeez is also accused of influencing TH board members during its Meeting No. 4/2014 to approve an investment of up to RM193.5mil, involving up to 30% of the existing issued share capital in Putrajaya Perdana, in which he had an interest.
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The offence was allegedly committed at the TH board meeting room, Tabung Haji Building, 201 Jalan Tun Razak here, on Aug 25, 2014.
The charge, framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. – Bernama
More to come
