A former Malaysian religious affairs minister, Jamil Khir Baharom, is charged with misappropriating about US$211 million linked to haj pilgrimage funds. He pleads not guilty to three charges at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, according to reports.
The charges relate to transactions involving a Saudi real estate company, with the alleged payments occurring between 2015 and 2017, during the administration of former prime minister Najib Razak. One outlet says the matter involves more than 860 million ringgit and refers to the state-run haj savings fund and a Saudi property group. Another report similarly describes the alleged transfers and the time period.
Both accounts describe the minister’s role and the nature of his plea, with no admission of wrongdoing. The prosecution is presented as part of broader legal action connected to the handling of haj-related funds in Malaysia.
