KUALA LUMPUR: Former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim’s family members may lose more than RM16mil in assets, involving cash and property, after the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) rejected their representation against the government’s application to forfeit the assets.

       The government is applying to forfeit almost RM16mil from the accounts belonging to Abdul Azeez’s wife Datin Seri Khadijah Mohd Noor and their four children, as well as a shoplot in Bandar Sunway, which is owned by their company, Azeera Management Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd.

       The assets were allegedly obtained though unlawful activities.

       The family’s representation was filed on Nov 16 last year.

       During case management before High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin yesterday, deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim said written notice of the rejection of the representation was sent to the family’s lawyer on Feb 4.

       Lawyer Datuk Prem Ramachandran, representing Abdul Azeez’s family, confirmed having received the letter.

       The court then ordered the parties to file their written submissions by mid-May and set June 21 for hearing of the forfeiture suit.

       On Dec 18 last year, the court dismissed the family’s application to stay the forfeiture proceeding pending the disposal of the Baling MP’s ongoing corruption case at the Sessions Court.

       Abdul Azeez is currently on trial for three counts of accepting bribes amounting to RM5.2mil in connection with road projects in Perak and Kedah, and 10 counts of money laundering involving a total of RM13.9mil which he allegedly received from Menuju Asas Sdn Bhd.

       However, the trial has been postponed pending his appeal at the Court of Appeal to have the case against him struck out. — Bernama