Malaysia haj fund scandal: ex-religious minister denies role in US$211 million transfer

A former Malaysian religious affairs minister pleaded not guilty on Monday to three charges involving more than 860 million ringgit (US$211 million) in transactions linked to the country’s state-run haj savings fund and a Saudi property group.

Jamil Khir Baharom, 65, served as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing religious affairs from 2009 until 2018, when the government of former prime minister Najib Razak lost power.

His prosecution is the latest legal action to follow a royal commission inquiry into Lembaga Tabung Haji’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020. The report, which was declassified in July, identified 14 troubled investments.

Malaysia’s Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan told parliament last month that the investments had collectively led to nearly 13 billion ringgit in losses, with seven totally emptied out.

According to the charge sheet, Jamil is accused of causing Tabung Haji to transfer 42.94 million ringgit to real estate company Al-Rawda in April 2015, followed by 288.17 million ringgit in December 2016, and 529.19 million ringgit in August 2017.

Jamil claimed trial before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad. The court set bail at 300,000 ringgit and ordered him to surrender his passport after prosecutors sought bail of 1 million ringgit.