Shipping firm CEO, 6 others held in MACC probe linked to Tabung Haji

Seven people, including a shipping company CEO with the title Datuk, have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in investigations into the findings of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Tabung Haji (TH).

A source from the MACC said the shipping company CEO, in his 60s, was detained for allegedly submitting documents containing false particulars when making payments to TH, Berita Harian reported.

The source also said a company director and former company director, both of whom hold the titles Datuk and Datuk Seri respectively, as well as four former senior TH management personnel, were also detained yesterday evening at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

“The second and third suspects, who are both in their 60s, were detained for allegedly deceiving TH officers into investing in a construction company by promising that the firm could be listed on Bursa Malaysia.

“The four former senior TH management officials, who are in their 50s and 60s, including a Datuk Seri and a woman, were detained for allegedly being involved in corrupt practices.

“Their actions prompted TH to enter into a lease agreement for four hotels with a company in Saudi Arabia. The deal was worth 2.49 billion Saudi riyal (RM2.72 billion) and resulted in losses to TH,” the source said.

The source added that only the shipping company CEO and the Datuk, who is a director of the construction company, were remanded, while the other five suspects were released on MACC bail due to health issues.

The source also said the two suspects were remanded for five days until Aug 19 following an order issued by Putrajaya magistrate Ahmad Afiq Hasan this morning.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests and said the case was being investigated under Sections 18 and 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

On Aug 11, religious minister Zulkifli Hassan said that in 2015, 2016 and 2017, TH leased four hotels in Makkah and Madinah and paid about RM1.55 billion upfront to Al-Rawda Real Estates Development & Project Management Co Ltd for a lease of 10 to 18 years.

TH had appointed Al-Rawda as the operator of the four hotels through a management and operation agreement with a lease rental income of 2.49 billion Saudi riyal.

However, TH did not receive any rental income since March 2019, prompting it to initiate enforcement proceedings against the firm in Saudi Arabia.

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