Former Malaysian minister Jamil Khir charged over RM860.3 million pilgrimmage fund asset disposal

KUALA LUMPUR – Jamil Khir Baharom, a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, has been charged in the Sessions Court with three counts of causing Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), Malaysia’s haj pilgrim fund board, to improperly dispose of over RM860.3 million (S$268.23 million) in assets belonging to the institution between 2015 and 2017.The former Jerai MP pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were presented before Sessions Court Judge Rosli Ahmad on Sept 14.According to the charge sheets, the 65-year-old allegedly dishonestly facilitated the disposal of TH’s assets in the following amounts: 42,942,074 ringgit, 288,172,134.64 ringgit, and 529,194,561.87 ringgit to Al-Rawda Real Estate Development and Projects Management.The offences were reportedly committed at the minister’s office in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) in Putrajaya on Apr 3, 2015. Additional offences were alleged to have occurred at another office in Putrajaya, on Dec 14, 2016, and Aug 17, 2017.The charges have been framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of imprisonment from six months to five years, along with possible whipping and a fine if convicted. THE STAR/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK