KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 23): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen 41 bank accounts of Aman Palestin Bhd over alleged irregularities pertaining to its fundraising activities.

The MACC has taken statements from important witnesses, with preliminary investigation identifying several issues involving the misappropriation of funds estimated at RM70 million, which was diverted for purposes other than the objectives of the establishment of the company, said the anti-graft agency in a statement on Thursday.

The MACC said the sum involved in the 41 bank accounts, amounted to RM15.87 million.

“MACC has also conducted a search at Aman Palestin’s premises and obtained financial and operational management documents for the past five years,” it said.

“The investigation was conducted to obtain information regarding offences under the MACC Act 2009, the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, and the Penal Code (Act 574),” it added.

Aman Palestin, which began operation in 2004 and was officially registered in 2006, was set up as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to channel aid for humanitarian activities in conflict-stricken Palestine.

The NGO was brought into the spotlight in October, after it was restricted from collecting donations in Perlis by the Perlis Islamic Affairs Department (JAIPs).

The state’s religious authority also started investigation following a letter by the state’s Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, which it said highlighted several complaints on the NGO’s donation collection activities.

Concurrently, the MACC instructed its forensic officers to initiate investigations on the NGO’s financial documents for the 2020-2022 period, following reports alleging misappropriation of funds that it had collected.

On Tuesday (Nov 21): Aman Palestin chief executive officer (CEO) Awang Suffian Awang Piut reportedly said that the NGO’s management cost constituted 8%, “or around RM8 million” of the donations collected, as opposed to 30% claimed by certain quarters.

It also utilised 22% of the fund for operating costs, Awang Suffian reportedly said.