Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Detains Former Tabung Haji Chairman and Treasury Secretary-General

Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) has taken two prominent figures into custody: a former chairman of the pilgrimage fund Tabung Haji (TH) and a former Secretary-General of the Treasury. The detentions are part of an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities and mismanagement within TH, as brought to light by a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).

The two men, both reportedly in their 60s, were arrested on Tuesday afternoon at the SPRM headquarters in Putrajaya. They are expected to be brought before the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court for remand applications. These arrests follow previous actions related to the TH scandal, including the remand of a former TH Chief Executive Officer.

The RCI report, released on July 29, revealed that TH had incurred losses nearing RM10 billion due to failures in regulatory compliance and investment missteps dating back to 2014. The SPRM has established a special task force to scrutinize the RCI findings, focusing on potential corruption, embezzlement, document forgery, abuse of power, and money laundering.

The case is being investigated under Section 23 of the SPRM Act 2009. Conviction under this section carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of at least five times the value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher. The SPRM's continued actions underscore a commitment to addressing the alleged financial misconduct within the crucial Hajj fund management agency.