UK authorities join forfeiture bid on Daim's assets

The Star

28-06-2025

PUTRAJAYA: Steps to forfeit assets belonging to the late finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, his family and proxies in the United Kingdom have begun, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the agency had also filed applications for the forfeiture of Ilham Tower yesterday.
'On June 5, we have filed for a restraining order on assets in UK worth RM700mil. We have informed the authorities in the UK and yesterday they informed us they have filed the same to their courts.
'This is a new development where the UK authorities agree with our request in Malaysia and the process will be continued at their courts,' he said this at a press conference here yesterday.
'On the defendant's side they have filed for an intervention and the courts have set July 9 for it. This is for case management and the restraining order application remains.
Meanwhile on the forfeiture proceedings of Ilham Tower, he said, it would not be an easy process.
'There is a lot to be done and the documents involved are also quite thick,' he said.
Media reports on June 3 stated that three luxury homes in London were among the seven properties and one bank account said to belong to Na'imah and her family, involving a total value of UK£132mil (RM758.2mil), which were frozen by the MACC.
MACC investigations found that the movable and immovable assets were linked to alleged offences under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001.
Ilham Tower, owned by Daim's family, was first seized by MACC in December 2023 in its anti-money laundering probe involving a corporate transaction of RM2.3bil (US$500mil) in November 1997 involving public-listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM), both linked to Umno.
In an unrelated matter, Azam said that there was no decision made yet on any criminal charges on former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
'All investigation papers have been forwarded to the DPP and we have been told that they have agreed to file for the asset forfeiture on the monies seized, worth around RM170mil, in the coming two weeks. It is up to him to challenge our application.
'Regarding criminal charges, we are awaiting the DPP's decision. I do not know when they will be but I believe a decision will be made within a month,' he said.
He added that on their end investigations have been deemed completed.
When asked on the role of Ismail Sabri's former son-in-law Datuk Jovian Mandagie in the investigation, he said that he is a witness.
On March 3, Azam had disclosed that Ismail Sabri is a suspect in an ongoing corruption and money laundering investigation following the discovery of approximately RM170mil in cash at a safe house during a raid.
The cash, held in numerous currencies such as baht, riyal, pound sterling, won, euro, Swiss franc and yuan, was seized alongside 16kg of pure gold bars valued at nearly RM7mil.
Additionally, 13 bank accounts containing over RM2mil have been frozen as part of the probe.
The investigation focuses on funding sources and expenditures related to promotional and publicity activities during Ismail Sabri's tenure.