By Tarani Palani, and Nikail Rezza | The Edge Malaysia
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been charged with failure to declare assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The 66-year-old was accused of intentionally providing a written statement that does not comply with the terms of the MACC notice dated Jan 7, 2025, by failing to declare cash in various currencies, gold and silver bars.
The sum includes RM 14.77 million in Malaysian currency; S$6.13 million, US$1.46 million, three million Swiss francs, €12.16 million, ¥363 million, £50,250, NZ$44,600, 34.75 million Emirati dirhams, and A$352,850.
The gold not declared was five bars weighing 1kg each and a gold coin worth weighing five grammes. The silver not declared was a 100g bar.
The Bera parliamentarian is alleged to have committed the offence on Feb 7, 2025.
The nation’s ninth prime minister pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the single charge before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin on Thursday.
Framed under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act, the charge carries a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and a fine not exceeding RM100,000.
Ismail Sabri was slated to be charged on Aug 7, but the court granted a postponement as he had to undergo surgery for arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat caused by abnormal electrical signals in the heart.
Earlier, about 50 people turned up at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex for show of support for the ex-prime minister.
Former Pahang menteri besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob and former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin were also present.
Bail set at RM300,000, no flight risk so passport not impounded
The court set bail at RM300,000 with one surety. Ismail’s passport will not be impounded as the court found no proof that he was a flight risk.
Earlier during submissions on bail, defence counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad said that the charges brought against his client on Thursday was peculiar considering the cash amount were already within the government’s possession.
He was referring to the forfeiture application allowed by the court last October were the same currencies in cash , allegedly linked to Ismail Sabri and his former political secretary Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus were forfeited to the government.
The monies were among the items seized by the MACC following raids on homes and offices believed to be used as “safe houses”.
Amer said that the defence will scrutinise Thursday’s charge and reserve their right to challenge it.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan suggested a bail of RM500,000 with one surety and for Ismail Sabri’s passport to be impounded by the court.
She added that the passport has to be impounded as the former prime minister was someone with wide networking connections and this was a way to ensure that court proceedings flow without any glitch.
Amer however countered that the bail amount was too high and not per amounts set in previous cases for the same offence.
He also argued that the prosecution’s statement that his client had a wide networking was a bare assertion and not backed with proof. He added that his client has cooperated with the authorities and was not a flight risk.
He added that the prosecution and the defence had earlier agreed for bail to be set at RM100,000 but the amount was now increased substantially and this was done in bad faith.
DPP Farah countered that whatever discussed outside of court is immaterial for Thursday’s official court proceedings.
The case will be mentioned again on Sept 29.
Edited by Isabelle Francis
