KUALA LUMPUR – Court proceedings against a former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) were abruptly halted today after the ex-executive was admitted to hospital for a heart condition, delaying his scheduled indictment to September 24.
Defense counsel Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin informed the court that his client was unable to attend the session after being admitted to the UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) on August 31.
The attorney stated that his client is undergoing serial electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings and remains hospitalised under the strict advice of a cardiologist at the medical centre.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin left it to the court’s discretion whether the charges should be read in the accused’s absence.
However, Sessions Court Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud ruled against proceeding without the accused, officially adjourning the case to September 24 for the charges to be formally read.
“The court is of the view that it is not feasible for him (the former COO) to be present in court as he is currently undergoing medical examinations and treatment for a heart condition,” Judge Awang Kerisnada ruled.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Wan Azwan Aiman revealed the nature of the pending charges, confirming that his client is set to face three counts of corruption under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
The charge comes on the heels of an extensive MACC crackdown linked to findings from the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Tabung Haji.
The anti-graft agency previously secured remand orders against 11 individuals—a dragnet that swept up a former TH chairman, a former chief executive officer, a former minister, and several top management executives alongside corporate figures tied to related companies. – September 3, 2026