KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Former army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and one of his wives have pleaded not guilty to receiving more than RM2 million in laundered money.

Both the husband and wife were charged with four money-laundering charges each, in two separate courts on Thursday. 

Hafizuddeain was charged with receiving RM2.12 million at different intervals from February 2024 to November 2025.

He was charged with receiving the monies in his different bank accounts at Bank Muamalat Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd.

Clad in black, the 57-year-old claimed trial to all charges read before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.

Meanwhile, one of Hafizuddeain's wives, Salwani Anuar @ Kamaruddin, was charged before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad for receiving RM77,000 of unlawful proceeds. 

The 26-year-old was accused of receiving the monies through the CIMB bank account of Wany Venture between November 2024 to November 2025. Salwani is the controller of Wany Venture company. 

The charges are framed under Subsection 4(1)b of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the value of the proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Salwani’s charges are also framed along with Subsection 87(1)(a) of AMLA, which concerns any person acting in an official capacity.

The court set bail at RM250,000 with two sureties, with additional conditions for Hafizuddeain. He has to report to the authorities once a month and his passport will be impounded by the court.

Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin suggested bail at RM300,000 and asked for the accused’s passport to be impounded citing Hafizuddeain as a possible flight risk.

However, Hafizuddeain’s counsel Aizul Rohan Anuar argued for bail to be set at a lower amount.

"The amount suggested is excessive for the accused today. He has been with the armed forces for more than 40 years and he is currently a retiree. His pension is about RM15,000 a month," the lawyer said.

He added that all of his client’s accounts were frozen at present due to the ongoing investigations, and to impose such a high bail went against the presumption of innocence.

"He also has to make bail for his wife," Aizul added.

To this, Wan Shahruddin — while thanking the ex-army chief for his service — countered that the bail amount does not come directly from "the accused’s pockets".

Salwani arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in a wheelchair, also dressed in black. Her lawyer later informed the court that she had a slight medical impairment on this day.

For Salwani, the prosecution suggested a bail between RM30,000 and RM50,000 and among others, for her passport to be impounded. 

Her lawyer Fahmi Moin asked for a lower bail amount, saying that his client only got married last August, is dependent on her husband's income and also has elderly parents to support. 

The court set bail at RM30,000 with two sureties and for her passport to be surrendered to court. 

Both cases are up for mention on March 30, and will be heard before judge Azura.

It is understood that both Hafizuddeain and Salwani will face additional charges in the coming days.

Hafizuddeain, along with his two wives were detained and remanded on Jan 8, in connection with investigations linked to procurement for the army.

It was reported in late December that he was directed to go on leave to allow investigations into the allegations against him. He later submitted a letter seeking early retirement effective Jan 1 this year.

Prior to the investigations into Hafizuddeain, the Malaysian Armed Forces Council had lined him up to be Chief of the Defence Forces — a role which oversees the Army, Navy and Air Force. His promotion was put on hold pending the investigation.

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