PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators’ probe into the Aman Palestin Bhd case found a company had received more than RM70mil from the non-governmental organisation, believed to be donations meant for several welfare funds.
The discovery was made after officials from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) carried out five raids on Nov 24, including on the company.
Sources with knowledge of the investigation said the money – said to be for welfare funds for the people of Palestine, Turkiye, Yemen and Syria – was found to have been channelled to the company.
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“Investigators found that money was credited into the company’s accounts,” a source revealed to The Star, adding the funds were suspected to have been used to make cash investments and to purchase gold and property.
The same source said the company was found to have 27 assets including plots of land in Selangor, aside from buildings in other states.
“Investigators scrutinising the money trail also found money from Aman Palestin that was channelled to the company was then transferred to accounts belonging to several other companies,” said the source.
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Investigators seized several items during the raid, including four Grade 999.9 gold bullion weighing 1kg each, and four handphones.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that multiple raids were carried out, including on the Aman Palestin office, as well as the residence of three Aman Palestin officials.
He said that a total of 11 individuals had so far been summoned for questioning.
“We are making good progress in this case,” he said without elaborating.
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Azam said more individuals were expected to be called up in relation to the case.
Aman Palestin, which began operation in 2004, was set up as a NGO to channel aid for humanitarian activities in Palestine.
On Nov 23, the MACC said more than RM25mil in 42 bank accounts under Aman Palestin were frozen. It added that the probe into the NGO had been ongoing since Oct 17, 2023, following alleged irregularities over its fundraising activities.
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According to reports, Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin through a letter dated Aug 24, had instructed the Perlis State Islamic Religious Department not to permit the collection of funds by Aman Palestin in places of worship within the state.
He had expressed reservations about Aman Palestin’s collection and distribution of funds, calling for more transparency into the matter.
Subsequently, the state religious authority suspended fund collections by Aman Palestin in Perlis.
Aman Palestin had pledged to fully cooperate with MACC’s investigations.
