Former Tabung Haji COO Claims Trial Over RM302,500 House Renovation Graft Charges

SHAH ALAM, Sept 24 – Former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) COO Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court today to three counts of receiving valuable property—specifically house renovation services totaling RM302,499.27—in his capacity as a public servant nine years ago.

Adi Azuan, 56, entered the plea after the charges were read before Judge Awang Kerisnada Awang Mahmud.

According to the charges, Adi Azuan received renovation works for three residential properties located at Jalan Polo Air in Shah Alam, valued at RM235,866.58; Jalan Sepah Puteri in Kota Damansara, valued at RM50,698.74; and Jalan USJ Height in Subang Jaya, valued at RM15,933.95.

The renovation services were allegedly provided by Thamsulazri Ismail, a director of AG Reka Sdn Bhd, who was known to have official dealings connected to Adi Azuan’s duties as TH chief operating officer. All three offences were reportedly committed at the respective addresses on March 7, 2017.

The charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both upon conviction.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy public prosecutor Muaz Ahmad Khairuddin proposed bail at RM70,000 alongside additional court-mandated conditions.

Defense counsel Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin—appearing alongside lawyers Datuk Tania Scivetti and Effa Azuin Aidrul Hisham—appealed for a lower bail sum of RM30,000, citing the accused’s full cooperation during investigations and his financial responsibilities toward supporting four children currently pursuing their studies at universities and schools.

Wan Azwan also urged the court to allow his client to retain his passport as he plans to perform umrah.

Judge Awang Kerisnada subsequently set bail at RM50,000 with additional conditions requiring Adi Azuan to report to the MACC office in Putrajaya, refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses, and surrender his passport to the court.

The court fixed Nov 25 for case mention.

Legal action following the public release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the management and operations of Tabung Haji has so far seen seven individuals charged in court. These include former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, former TH chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, former THP Bina Sdn Bhd safety and health manager Nasahruddin Ahmad, and Alam Maritim Resources Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Azmi Ahmad.

The TH RCI report was made public on July 29, documenting various management and operational weaknesses between 2014 and 2020, listing problematic investments requiring a forensic audit, and highlighting suspicious transactions alongside the concealment of information.

–NMT