Former Armed Forces Chief, General (Rtd) Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar, 60, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here on Friday to four charges involving corruption and criminal breach of trust (CBT) totaling over RM4 million.
The charges include two counts of using his position for gratification amounting to RM552,481.90, one count of CBT involving RM3 million from the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT), and one count of receiving RM200,000 without consideration.
Mohd Nizam made the plea after all charges were read before Judge Rosli Ahmad. Dressed in a black coat and holding a walking cane, he said, “Understood the charges, Your Honour. I plead not guilty.”
According to the first two charges, while serving as Assistant Chief of Staff (Personnel) of the Malaysian Armed Forces (AKSPA ATM) and chairman of the TKAT Executive Committee, Mohd Nizam allegedly used his position to obtain gratification for himself — RM267,481.90 and RM285,000 respectively.
He was accused of appointing five companies to supply goods such as sarongs, batik cloth, multifunctional folding pliers, backpacks, and towels for Hari Raya gift packages for TKAT in 2025. The offences allegedly occurred at the Ministry of Defence, Jalan Padang Tembak, on June 24, 2024.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of at least five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
For the third charge, Mohd Nizam was accused of criminal breach of trust while holding the same position, after being entrusted with RM3 million in TKAT’s bank account. He allegedly invested the funds in a company without obtaining approval from the TKAT Investment Committee on October 4, 2024. If convicted, he faces punishment under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries jail terms of two to 20 years, whipping, and/or fines.
The fourth charge states that as Armed Forces Chief, he received RM200,000 without consideration from a 57-year-old company director who had dealings related to Mohd Nizam’s official duties. The offence allegedly took place at Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Buku Lima, Ministry of Defence, in March 2025. Conviction carries a punishment under Section 165 of the Penal Code of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib, while Mohd Nizam was represented by lawyer Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud.
