‘Flabbergasted’: Lawyer says lock-up attire, handcuffs were not former TH chairman Abdul Azeez’s choice

In a surprising turn of events, the lawyer representing former Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has vehemently denied the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) claim that Azeez chose to appear in court wearing a purple lock-up shirt and handcuffs. According to The Edge, Azeez was kept in police custody throughout the day and was ordered to change into the lock-up attire just before a Sessions Court heard the police’s remand application.

The lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, stated that the handcuffs were placed on Azeez before he was taken directly to another Sessions Court for the MACC charge, leaving him with no chance to change his attire. Amer expressed his astonishment at the MACC's account, asserting that his client did not have a say in the matter. He also warned that Azeez reserves the right to take legal action against anyone who publishes what he considers a false or misleading depiction of the events.

Azeez, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of using his position to influence TH's approval of a RM193.5 million investment in Putrajaya Perdana Bhd, was released on bail of RM450,000 with two local sureties. Additionally, Azeez was held for two days pending further investigation by Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department, reportedly under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.