Influencer couple in donations probe fail to set aside remand order

 

Hazalif Hazani, 30, known as Alif Teega, and his wife Aisyah Hijanah Azhari, 26, were ordered to be detained until July 14. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A social media influencer couple alleged to have misappropriated donations have to remain in police custody after their application to set aside the remand order was dismissed by the High Court today.

Justice Jamil Hussin dismissed the review application filed by Hazalif Hazani, 30, also known as Alif Teega, and his wife Aisyah Hijanah Azhari, 26.

The judge held that the magistrate had complied with the Criminal Procedure Code in granting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) request for the remand.

The couple’s lawyer, Abd Rahim Ali, had argued that there was no connection between them and the alleged offence. “Due to the absence of any connection, the remand order should be set aside,” he said.

His clients were not affiliated with any public body, as required for prosecution by the MACC Act, and the members of their company, Hijanah Haul Holdings Sdn Bhd, are also not public officials, he argued.

However, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the couple’s application was premature “because there is no basis to claim that the investigation has concluded and there are no offences under the law”.

He said the remand was crucial to determine whether any offences have been committed by the couple.

Deputy public prosecutor Law Chin How said MACC applied for the remand order due to allegations that the JomDonate platform was used by the couple to collect donations from the public.

“So, it involves public funds being channeled into that platform. The fact that there are companies authorised to collect donations needs to be thoroughly investigated,” he contended.

The judge held that there was no merit to the couple’s argument of a lack of connection between them and the alleged offence.

“MACC should be allowed to complete its investigation,” Jamil said, as the question of whether the couple had committed any offences could only be determined after the investigation was completed.

He said the remand order issued by the magistrate against them is valid and dismissed the couple’s application for review.

Yesterday, magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin granted MACC’s application to remand Hazalif and Aisyah until July 14 for investigations into allegations of misappropriating funds donated via the crowdfunding platform known as JomDonate. - FMT