KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister at the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom was charged in the Sessions Court here with three counts of causing Lembaga Tabung Haji to dispose of more than RM860.3mil in assets belonging to the board between 2015 and 2017.
He pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad here yesterday.
“I plead not guilty and claim trial,” the 65-year-old said as he stood in the dock.
According to the charge sheets, Jamil Khir allegedly dishonestly caused TH to dispose of its assets – RM42,942,074 (SAR44,170,000); RM288,172,134.64 (SAR250,041,622) and RM529,194,561.87 (SAR471,848,615) – to Al-Rawda Real Estate Development And Projects Management Co Ltd.
The offences were allegedly committed at the minister’s office, Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Level 9, Block D7, Complex D, the Federal Territories administration centre, Putrajaya, on April 3, 2015, and at another office on Level 10, Block A, Kompleks Islam Putrajaya.
The charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term between six months and five years, whipping and a fine, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan offered bail at RM1mil for all charges.
She also asked the court to impound the accused’s passport pending the disposal of the case.
“If we look at all the charges before this court today, it involves a cumulative amount of RM860,308,770.51.
“I believe what we ask for is reasonable, as this is a high-profile case. A RM1mil bail and impoundment of the passport is appropriate,” the prosecutor said.
Lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who represented Jamil Khir, asked for a lower bail amount of around RM300,000 for all the charges.
He said bail should not be punitive for the accused.
“Datuk Seri Jamil Khir does not have any other source of income. His only sources of income are his pension as a former minister and military pension.
“We submit that RM300,000 in one surety with an impounded passport is enough to ensure his attendance at court,” he said.
Judge Rosli fixed bail at RM300,000 for all charges in one surety and allowed the additional bail condition that Jamil Khir must surrender his passport to the court.
The case is set for mention on Nov 5.
Jamil Khir was remanded for seven days from Sept 2 and released on bail on Sept 8.
He is the latest high-profile figure charged in an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission into the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Tabung Haji, which revealed mismanagement within the institution.
Speaking to the media after he posted bail, Jamil Khir vowed to clear his name in court, saying that he believed it is the best place for him to be vindicated.
“This is the best place (court) to get justice. I am confident. Insya-Allah, the court will give the best justice,” he said at a press conference outside the court complex here.
