KUALA LUMPUR: A company appointed as an agent to collect zakat (tithes) is currently being investigated for allegedly misappropriating nearly RM10mil in tithes collected.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said throughout 2023, his department had investigated four (CBT) cases comprising two in Selangor, one in Terengganu and one in Perak.

"In this case, the company which was appointed to collect tithes is suspected to have failed to deposit the tithes between March and September last year.

"The total losses in these cases are RM9.714mil with the Perak case alone charting RM9.629mil," he told reporters on Thursday (Jan 4).

He said it was sad that zakat money was also misappropriated by the individuals entrusted to make these collections.

"This should not happen because zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam that every Muslim adheres to.

"These tithes should be managed well and with trust so that it can be used in accordance with the wishes of the religion," he said.

Comm Ramli sternly warned the perpetrators of these crimes that strict action will be taken to ensure that such crimes do not recur.

He said they have taken statements from a number of individuals in connection with the case so far but declined to elaborate further.