A STRING of four 9s (9999) symbolises extreme longevity, eternal abundance and the absolute peak of a complete cycle in Chinese geomancy a.k.a. feng shui.
But whether such fortune shall stick with Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim – the most high-profile person charged over the Lembaga Tabung Haji Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report findings to-date – remains to be seen.
The UMNO supreme council member was supposed to appear before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi at 9am this morning (Sept 9) with his case mentioned at the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Sessions Court 9 in Jalan Duta.
“If the Chinese were to discuss this case, it would definitely be related to lucky numbers – Date 9, Month 9, Hour 9 and Court 9,” observant socio-political activist Adrian Lim Chee En shared in a Facebook post.
In fact, the former two-term Baling MP would have a ‘fifth 9’ if his previous nine charges – three for corruption and six for money laundering – in which he had been acquitted were taken into consideration.
“The prosecution of Azeez DOESN’T violate the principle of double jeopardy which is the principle where the law prohibits a person from being tried or punished twice for the same offence,” explained the commentator known for his progressive advocacy.
“The previous nine charges were corruption cases related to road projects in Perak and Kedah while the current case is the Tabung Haji case.”
Editor’s Note: The acquittal was granted after the prosecution did not object to his application. His lawyer said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had completed its investigation and decided to take no further action against him with all seized assets and property returned.
Azeez was initially charged with three counts of accepting RM5.2 mil in bribes and 10 money-laundering charges involving RM972,414.60 linked to road projects in Perak and Kedah between September 2010 and April 2018.
However, four of the money-laundering charges were struck out by the Court of Appeal, thus leaving him with nine charges back then.
Second time lucky?
Azeez, 60, who reportedly arrived at 10.21am clad in the purple attire used for remand detainee was earlier brought to court for a separate remand proceeding for a police investigation under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
For his first court appointment, he has been remanded for two days to assist investigations linked to fraudulent hibah or gift.
Judge Mohamad Afiq Zuber, acting as magistrate, issued the remand order starting today (Sept 9) till tomorrow (Sept 10) after allowing the police’s application to detain Azeez under Section 420 of the Penal Code which is related to cheating.
Recall that the Baling UMNO division head alongside ex-treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, 69, were remanded for seven days from Aug 27 to Sept 2 to assist the graft buster into its probe pertaining to financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds.
As for the TH-specific case, his charge was framed under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009 which is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of abusing his position as TH chairman by instructing its then CEO Ismee Ismail to propose him as the fund’s representative on the board of Putrajaya Perdana.
In other words, Azeez is accused of abusing his position as TH chairman by instructing its then CEO Tan Sri Ismee Ismail to propose him as the fund’s representative on the board of Putrajaya Perdana Bhd.
The position allegedly came with an annual remuneration of RM690,000 and the use of a BMW 7 Series car. Additionally, he is also accused of influencing TH’s board of directors to approve an investment of up to RM193.5 mil in Putrajaya Perdana in which he allegedly had an interest.
If found guilty, Azeez could be jailed for up to 20 years and fined not less than five times the amount or value of the gratification that was the subject matter of the offence or RM10,000, whichever is higher. – Sept 9, 2026
Main image credit: Azeez Rahim/Facebook
