Former army chief, two wives brought to court for remand over corruption probe

PUTRAJAYA – A former Malaysian army chief and his two wives arrived at the Putrajaya magistrate's court on Thursday for remand proceedings to assist investigations into a corruption case involving an alleged procurement tender cartel linked to the Malaysian Army (TDM).

The three individuals were brought to court in a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) van and arrived at about 10am.

On Wednesday, it was reported that all three were detained after presenting themselves at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at about 3pm.

Separately, a husband-and-wife pair who owned a company linked to case were remanded for seven days starting Wednesday.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and said all parties should allow investigations to proceed.

The MACC, he said, remained committed to conducting the investigation with full transparency and professionalism.

On Tuesday, it was reported that 17 company directors were remanded for five days to assist investigations into the same case.

According to the MACC, the suspects comprised nine men and eight women aged between their 20s and 60s. They were detained between 8.30pm and 11.30pm on Monday when gave statements at the MACC Putrajaya office.

Preliminary investigations found that the company directors were suspected of paying bribes to senior Malaysian Army officers in exchange for securing supply and maintenance projects involving the army.

Previously, the MACC said the former army chief was required to give a statement on Dec 28 last year but was unable to do so as he had been hospitalised.

The MACC also visited the Defence Ministry on Dec 23 to begin preliminary investigations into several Malaysian Army projects dating back to 2023.

On Dec 29, Azam said six bank accounts belonging to the officer and his family members were seized to assist investigations.

Two days ago, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin confirmed that Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain had been instructed to go on immediate leave pending the outcome of investigations into the reported case against him.