Former Malaysian Army Chief Charged in Corruption Probe

A former Malaysian army chief, Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan,  and his wife, Salwani Anuar, have been charged with money laundering, as authorities widen a major corruption investigation into military procurement.

Hafizuddeain, 57, and his wife, Anuar, 26, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges linked to funds prosecutors say were derived from illicit activities.

The case is part of a broader Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into alleged kickbacks involving senior military officers and defence contracts.

Hafizuddeain was placed on leave in December after the probe began and formally retired on January 1, 2026. The investigation has included raids on companies and the freezing of bank accounts connected to the couple.

Prosecutors allege that Hafizuddeain received about 2.12 million ringgit (roughly $525,000) between February 2024 and November 2025, paid into his personal accounts. Salwani is accused of receiving 77,000 ringgit through a company account she controlled.

Both defendants were granted bail but ordered to surrender their passports and report monthly to the MACC while proceedings continue. Each money laundering charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to five times the value of the alleged illicit funds, or five million ringgit.

Hafizuddeain is due to face two additional charges on Friday in Shah Alam, near Kuala Lumpur, while Salwani is scheduled to appear next week in Terengganu on a further charge under the same law.

The probe has already led to the arrest of several senior officers. The MACC said a former armed forces chief, Mohd Nizam Jaafar, will be charged on Friday with abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and unlawful acceptance of gifts, while investigations into two other top officers are nearing completion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last week ordered an immediate temporary freeze on all procurement decisions by the police and armed forces, directing a review of contracts to ensure compliance with regulations.

Local media have reported that the MACC is examining 26 companies linked to defence procurement projects, some of which allegedly secured repeated high-value contracts between 2023 and 2025.