SEREMBAN, Aug 26 — A celebrity preacher was charged in the Sessions Court today with 34 counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM13.85 million in non-governmental organisation (NGO) funds and 17 counts of money laundering amounting to more than RM1.5 million.
However, Pertubuhan Rezeki Infaq Malaysia (PRIM) chairman Abdullah Abdol Razak, 40, pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which were read out separately before Judge Datin M. Kunasundary.
According to the charges, the accused, as the chairman entrusted with control of PRIM’s funds, is alleged to have committed CBT by dishonestly approving payments totalling RM13.85 million without following the prescribed procedures.
The act allegedly violated Clause 10 of the PRIM Constitution, which stipulates that the withdrawal or payment of funds requires the approval of the General Meeting and the organisation’s Committee.
The offences were allegedly committed at a bank branch in Biz Avenue, Seremban 2, between February 28, 2023, and March 31, 2026.
The charges were framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code (Act 574), which provides for imprisonment of between two and 20 years, whipping, and a fine upon conviction.
On the money laundering charges, Abdullah was accused of transferring RM1.56 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from his bank and company accounts to several accounts belonging to companies and individuals for the purchase of gold.
The offences were allegedly committed at the same location between May 18, 2024 and February 24, 2026.
The charges, framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, are punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act by up to 15 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of not less than five times the value of the proceeds from unlawful activities or RM5 million, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib proposed bail of RM1 million with two local sureties and additional conditions that his passport be surrendered to the court and that he refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses, including directors and employees of the company involved.
Lawyer Azrul Zulkifli Stork, representing the accused, requested that the court set bail at RM700,000, citing his client’s uncertain income and responsibility for supporting 11 children and his mother.
“He is a restaurant owner and influencer with an uncertain income. A bail of RM1 million is excessive, especially since all his accounts have been frozen,” he said.
The court then allowed Abdullah bail of RM700,000, comprising RM300,000 unsecured bail with two local sureties, and agreed to the additional conditions proposed by the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the NGO's secretary Noor Sahira Abdullah, 30, pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of abetting Abdullah by intentionally assisting him in making the money transfers via online banking at the same location and on the same dates.
She was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code (Act 574), read together with Section 409 of the same Code, which provides for imprisonment of between two and 20 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Noor Sahira, who was also represented by Azrul, was granted bail of RM200,000 with two local sureties, subject to the same additional conditions.
The court fixed September 28 for mention of both cases.
