KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 — Former Army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan was today charged with four counts of money laundering involving more than RM2.1 million, by allegedly receiving these as illegal funds from early 2024 to late 2025.
Dressed in a dark blue shirt and a black hooded jacket, Hafizuddeain confirmed he understood the charges and claimed trial to all four charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
The offence carries a maximum 15-year jail term and a fine of RM5 million, or at least five times the value of the alleged proceeds of unlawful activity, whichever is higher.
Hafizuddeain, who will be turning 58 in April, is accused of committing the money laundering offences during a period stretching from February 2024 to November 2025 by receiving proceeds from unlawful activities into his three bank accounts:
- Between May 7 and June 25, 2025, by receiving RM969,000 into his Bank Muamalat Berhad bank account;
- Between February 2 and December 3, 2024, by receiving RM474,850 into his Maybank bank account;
- Between January 15 and November 7, 2025, by receiving RM488,550 into the same Maybank bank account; and
- Between March 12 and August 21, 2025, by receiving RM190,000 into another Maybank bank account of his.
The total amount would come to RM2,122,400.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi fixed bail at RM250,000 with two sureties, and said both sureties are to put in RM125,000 each to ensure Hafizuddeain’s attendance of court proceedings.
Azura also set the additional bail conditions as requiring him to report on the first week of every month to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and for his passport to be kept by the court until the case ends.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin suggested a bail amount of RM300,000 with the conditions of two sureties, monthly reporting to MACC’s headquarters, and for the passport to be surrendered to court as it is a serious case and flight risk is a possibility.
In response, lawyer Aizul Rohan Anuar did not object to the proposed bail conditions, but had requested that the bail amount be reduced to RM100,000, as he said it would be an “excessive” sum as his client is now a retiree after serving the military for more than 40 years.
“And as a retiree, his income is estimated to be RM15,000 a month, and taking into account all his accounts, which I believe have been frozen, it is a punishment if a high amount is imposed,” he said, adding that a high sum would go against the presumption of innocence until one is proven guilty.
“I hope this court takes into account, he’s still innocent until proven guilty, also his contribution while in the army, and including his service of one year in Bosnia, as part of his service and taking into account that his wife will face charges today, he is also responsible to pay for his wife’s bail,” Aizul urged the court.
Wan Shaharuddin, who led the prosecution’s team, expressed gratitude for Hafizuddeain’s 40-year service, but said the bail is a separate matter where the main factor should be the severity of the case.
“And it has to be remembered that the bail is not out of his pocket, it is from his sureties. And the same for his third wife who will be charged in court, it’s also not paid by him, (but) by the surety. I think RM300,000 is a very reasonable amount,” he said, before the judge decided on RM250,000 as the bail amount.
Also representing Hafizuddeain today was lawyer Muhammad Kausar Mohd Khairi.
Hafizuddeain’s 26-year-old wife, Salwani Anuar @ Kamaruddin, was later charged this morning before a different Sessions Court judge.
Salwani Anuar pleaded not guilty to four counts of money laundering by allegedly receiving illegal funds totalling RM77,000 via a company where she is the controller.
Both their money laundering cases have been scheduled for mention on March 30.
Salwani Anuar was charged before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad, who agreed with the prosecution’s request to transfer the wife’s case to be heard before judge Azura.
Later, outside the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur court complex, Aizul confirmed to reporters that Hafizuddeain is a retired general and said “of course” when asked if his client would be fighting the money-laundering charges.
Asked about the prime minister’s remarks on the government’s anti-corruption push in the defence sector, Aizul replied: “Good, that’s a good stand, I’m against corruption, but I believe under Article 5, Federal Constitution, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. You will feel the same if you are facing charges and you think you are innocent, so it applies to all.”
Separately, Wan Shaharuddin said Hafizuddeain is expected to face two more money-laundering charges tomorrow in Shah Alam, adding that all six charges — including today’s four — would amount to “more or less RM3 million”.
Asked if the prosecution has an ironclad case against the former Army chief, Wan Shaharuddin said: “As usual we are having an uphill battle, including this case, because it involves millions of dollars. But we wait and see, we will try our best to prove our case.
“That’s my motto, even if it’s an easy case, when we see cases, there will be risks, obstacles, I can’t say for sure that there will be a conviction but we will try our best,” he said when responding to the remark on the “uphill battle”.
