{
  "id": 3444493,
  "title": "Preacher claims trial to 34 CBT charges involving RM13mil in NGO funds",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/preacher-claims-trial-to-34-cbt-charges-involving-rm13mil-in-ngo-funds",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T06:28:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/26/preacher-claims-trial-to-34-cbt-charges-involving-rm13mil-in-ngo-funds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A preacher and social media figure, Abdullah Abdol Razak, entered a trial in a Malaysian court today for 34 counts of criminal breach of trust and 17 counts of money laundering involving funds exceeding RM13 million. The preacher, known as Ustaz Lah, alleged he was falsely charged by Pertubuhan Rezeki Infaq Malaysia, the NGO he oversaw. He pleaded not guilty to the charges presented by Judge M Kunasundary.\n\nThe 40-year-old was accused of misappropriating funds from PRIM's accounts, breaching the organization's constitution, between February 28, 2023, and March 31, 2026. The charges, framed under Section 409 of the Penal Code, can result in up to 20 years in prison, a fine, and whipping. Abdullah is also accused of laundering RM1.56 million, transferred between May 18, 2024, and February 24, 2026, which violated Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.\n\nThe NGO's secretary, Noor Sahira Abdullah, 30, was separately charged with abetting Abdullah in the CBT offenses, and will also stand trial. The court scheduled a case mention for September 28.",
  "summary": "Abdullah Abdol Razak also faces 17 money laundering charges involving RM1.56 million.",
  "key_points": [
    "Preacher Abdullah Abdol Razak faces 34 CBT charges and 17 money laundering counts",
    "RM13 million misappropriated from NGO PRIM between Feb 2023 and Mar 2026",
    "NGO secretary Noor Sahira Abdullah charged with abetting CBT offenses"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This trial marks a significant escalation in the case against the preacher, who faces severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison, if convicted of the 34 counts of criminal breach of trust and money laundering.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Preacher claims trial to 34 CBT charges involving RM13mil in NGO funds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/preacher-claims-trial-to-34-cbt-charges-involving-rm13mil-in-ngo-funds-3445664",
        "published": "2026-08-26T06:28:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Preacher, NGO secretary claim trial to RM13.8m CBT and money laundering charges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/preacher-ngo-secretary-claim-trial-to-rm13-8m-cbt-and-money",
        "published": "2026-08-26T08:14:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Preacher, influencer claims trial to 51 charges involving RM15.4mil",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/preacher-influencer-claims-trial-to-51-charges-involving-rm15-4mil",
        "published": "2026-08-26T08:44:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}