KUALA LUMPUR – More than RM70 million from fundraising NGO Aman Palestin Bhd’s funds were funnelled to a company, which allegedly used them to make cash investments, and to buy gold and property.
This was uncovered by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after conducting five raids on November 24, including on the said company, sources told The Star.
It was also reported that investigators found that the company owned 27 assets, such as buildings and plots of land, as well as money being transferred to other companies.
Yesterday, it was reported that four 1kg Grade 999.9 gold bullion bars were among the items seized during the raids.
Meanwhile, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki was quoted as saying that raids were done on the Aman Palestin office and homes of three of its officials.
At least 11 people have been called up for questioning and more will be summoned to aid MACC investigations.
On November 23, MACC said it froze Aman Palestin’s 41 bank accounts amounting to RM15,868,762, following its probe into alleged irregularities over the NGO’s fundraising activities.
The anti-graft agency also conducted a search at Aman Palestin’s premises and obtained financial and operational management documents for the past five years as part of the investigation that started on October 17.
According to MACC’s statement, the preliminary investigation has identified several issues involving the misappropriation of funds estimated at RM70 million, which was diverted for purposes other than the objectives of the establishment of the company.
The case is being investigated under the MACC Act 2009, the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA) and the Penal Code (Act 574).
On November 7, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said forensic officers were still looking into the documentation obtained from Aman Palestin, specifically records from 2020 to 2022.
On October 21, Azam said the MACC has the authority to initiate an investigation based on information reported by the media, even if no formal complaint has been filed.
On October 11, the ProMediaTajdid Facebook page shared a letter from the Perlis Mufti Department dated August 24, instructing the Perlis State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAIPs) not to permit the collection of funds by Aman Palestin in places of worship and relevant religious premises within the state.
Subsequently, the state religious authority suspended fund collections by Aman Palestin in Perlis effective October 12, pending the completion of a probe. – November 27, 2023