Malaysian ex-army chief, wife deny laundering US$544,000 in military procurement scandal

Malaysia’s former army chief and one of his wives claimed trial on Thursday to money-laundering charges involving about 2.2 million ringgit (US$544,000) amid a widening investigation into alleged bribery and abuse of power linked to military procurement.Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, 58, and Salwani Anuar, 27, were charged with four counts each under Malaysia’s anti-money-laundering law in separate proceedings at the special corruption High Court in the capital Kuala Lumpur.Prosecutors alleged Hafizuddeain had, at various times from 2024 to 2025, received “proceeds from unlawful activity” through multiple bank deposits totalling 2,122,400 ringgit. Salwani’s charges, meanwhile, involve a smaller sum of 77,000 ringgit.If convicted, they could be jailed a maximum of 15 years and fined at least five times the amount involved or five million ringgit, whichever is higher.Both pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.Salwani Anuar enters court in a wheelchair on Thursday. Photo: EPAHafizuddeain was granted bail of 250,000 ringgit, while Salwani’s bail was set at 30,000 ringgit. The couple were ordered to surrender their passports and report monthly to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).