Ex-army chief charged with receiving over RM 2.12 million in proceeds from unlawful activities

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Chief of Army Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan was charged in the Sessions Court today with four counts of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to more than RM2.12 million.

Muhammad Hafizuddeain, 58, pleaded not guilty after all four charges were read out to him before Judge Azura Alwi.

"I understand the charges and ask for a trial," he said after the charges were read out one by one.

He is the first Chief of Army to be charged in court in connection with money laundering cases linked to Malaysian Army (TDM) procurement tenders.

For the first to fourth charges, he was accused of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities, namely RM969,000, RM474,850, RM488,550 and RM190,000, which were deposited into three bank accounts belonging to the accused.

The offences were allegedly committed at three banks at three different locations along Jalan Melaka, Bukit Damansara and the federal capital between Feb 2, 2024 and Nov 7, 2025.

The charges were framed under Subsection 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same Act.

The section provides for, upon conviction, a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the proceeds from the unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Under Ops Parasit, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Jan 7 detained a senior officer and his two wives in connection with army tender procurement projects, with the officer remanded for seven days and his wives remanded for three and six days respectively the following day.

The MACC investigation into the case began on Oct 7, 2025, and is considered sensitive as it involves high-ranking officers and public interest.

On Dec 23, a team of MACC officers arrived at the Defence Ministry to conduct preliminary investigations into several army projects dating back to 2023.

Last Thursday, 23 individuals, including two high-ranking officers and four senior Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) officers, were detained by the MACC to assist in investigations into alleged corruption and abuse of power, involving procurement matters and the use of public funds, as well as claims of receiving bribes from several companies, linked to the procurement of supplies for the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT) and the ministry. - BERNAMA