Jamil Khir Charged Over TH Disposal of RM860.3 Million in Assets

KUALA LUMPUR: [UPDATED] Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here on Monday to three charges of causing Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to dispose of assets worth RM860,308,770.51, equivalent to SAR766,062,237 (Saudi riyals), to a Saudi Arabia-based property company between 2015 and 2017.

Jamil Khir, who was dressed in a black suit, entered the plea after the charges were read before Judge Rosli Ahmad.

“I plead not guilty and claim trial,” he said while standing in the dock.

According to all three charges, the 65-year-old former Jerai Member of Parliament, while serving as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), allegedly caused TH to dispose of assets belonging to the institution, comprising RM42,942,074 (SAR44.17 million), 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 alleged offences were committed at his office in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) at the Federal Government Administrative Centre and the Putrajaya Islamic Complex on April 3, 2015, Dec 14, 2016, and Aug 17, 2017.

Each charge was framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of between six months and five years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.

During proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan proposed bail of RM1 million with one Malaysian surety.

“Although the charges involve bailable offences, the court should take into account the seriousness of the offences, the financial scale involved and the risks associated with the case.

“The total amount involved in these cases exceeds RM860 million. Therefore, we propose that the court impose an additional condition requiring the accused to surrender his passport to the court,” she said.

Farah Ezlin appeared together with Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Qistini Qamarul Abrar.

However, lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, representing Jamil Khir, appealed for bail to be set at a minimum of RM300,000 with one surety.

He said his client was prepared to surrender his passport to the court as an additional condition.

“Your Honour, my client has no other source of income apart from his pensions as a former minister and a former Major General in the Malaysian Armed Forces.

“Bail of RM300,000 with one surety, together with the surrender of his passport, would be sufficient to guarantee his attendance in court,” said the lawyer, who appeared with Datuk Zaidi Ahmad Zaidi Zainal and Datuk Hamidi Mohd Noh.

He also informed the court that Jamil Khir’s son, the fifth of six siblings, was present to post bail.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Rosli allowed Jamil Khir bail of RM300,000 for all three charges with one surety and the additional condition that he surrender his passport.

The court fixed Nov 5 for further mention of the case.

Jamil Khir is the fifth individual to be charged in court in connection with findings from the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into the management and operations of TH.

Two former THP Bina Sdn Bhd managers, Nasahruddin Ahmad, 56, and Tengku Kamarolhisham Tengku Kamaruddin, 55, were charged on Sept 4.

Former TH chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Alam Maritim Resources Bhd Group Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azmi Ahmad were subsequently charged on Sept 9 and Sept 10, respectively.

Jamil Khir was previously detained on Sept 2 after appearing at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya to give a statement as part of investigations into the findings of the TH RCI report.

The TH RCI report was made public on July 29 and highlighted various weaknesses in the institution’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020, while identifying several problematic investments requiring forensic audits.

Media reports also stated that TH suffered losses of nearly RM13 billion from 14 problematic investments, seven of which recorded total losses.

Sinar Harian