Two in Sabah graft scandal to be charged soon
At least two individuals will be charged soon in connection with the ongoing Sabah corruption scandal, said MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki today.
'I will announce in a very short time the charging of the individuals in the case,' Azam was quoted as saying by The Star after attending the second MACC Law Enforcement Accredited Programme Convocation in Bangi.
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The Star
27 minutes ago
- The Star
Na'imah charge ‘likely retaliation'
Rejection of bid to refer questions to High Court unfair, says lawyer KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court's dismissal of Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid's application to refer questions of law to the High Court was a miscarriage of justice, the High Court heard. Lawyer Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar told High Court judge Justice K. Muniandy that the dismissal had denied his client clarity on her legal position and this should be rectified by the High Court to uphold the integrity of the judicial process. Gurdial was submitting in Na'imah's application for a revision of the Sessions Court's dismissal of her application to refer eight questions regarding the validity of charges she is facing. These are for allegedly failing to declare her assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). In his submission, Gurdial said the present charge against Na'imah was an offence that was 'purely technical' and likely made 'in retaliation' by the MACC. He said Na'imah was asked to assist in the investigation against her late husband, Tun Daim Zainuddin, as a witness and she was never a suspect. The MACC issued a Section 36(1)(b) notice on her, requiring disclosure of information in respect of her assets and she had complied with this notice to the best of her ability, Gurdial said. 'Notwithstanding this, the MACC took the view that her compliance was insufficient... insufficient perhaps for them to formulate a charge against the late Daim for any criminal offence. 'Perhaps in retaliation, the MACC commenced the present charge against the applicant,' he said. Gurdial said the dismissal by the Sessions Court showed a clear misconception in law and procedure when the lower court judge made certain findings that misconstrued the true nature of the charge against Na'imah. 'In this case, the Sessions Court's dismissal deprived the applicant of this fundamental right, thereby failing to ensure that the legal questions, which are central to the case, were properly addressed,' he added. Justice Muniandy fixed July 11 for parties to continue their submission. On Jan 23, 2024, Na'imah was charged for failure to comply with a notice to declare her assets, which included Menara Ilham and several other properties in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. She was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment or a fine of RM100,000, upon conviction. On Feb 29, 2024, Na'imah filed an application to refer questions of law pertaining to Sections 30(5), 36(2) and 62 of the MACC Act 2009, as well as Section 32(3)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 to the High Court. On Feb 18, the application was dismissed by the Sessions Court on grounds that it lacked merit, as there were no constitutional issues raised in the case.
The Star
27 minutes ago
- The Star
RM16mil bags, gold seized
Big haul: Some of the luxury items seized in the MACC's probe into alleged misappropriation of sukuk funds. — Photo courtesy of MACC Secret room with firearms also found in Tan Sri's home KUALA LUMPUR: Luxury bags, gold bars and watches worth around RM16mil were seized by graft busters from the home of a Tan Sri linked to a probe into the alleged misappropriation of sukuk funds meant for a highway project in the Klang Valley. The raid, which took place in Bandar Tasik Selatan, Cheras, on Thursday, involved the elite Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS). The ACTS team was called in to provide security after the MACC received information that a secret room believed to contain valuables and weapons was located within the premises. 'The ACTS team was deployed to ensure the safety of MACC officers and to escort seized items back to the commission's headquarters in Putrajaya,' the MACC's strategic communications division said yesterday. Among the items seized during the search were 84 luxury handbags valued at RM3mil, 11 branded wristwatches estimated at RM1mil, and high-end liquor worth approximately RM5mil. The commission also confiscated gold bars, coins and figurines estimated to be worth RM3mil, as well as diamonds and other jewellery worth RM4mil. MACC officers also discovered a luxury-brand casino game set, believed to be worth RM150,000. The raid also uncovered a hidden, fortified room used for storing weapons and ammunition. However, no seizures were made as the firearms were registered under a private security firm owned by the Tan Sri. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that the total value of the items seized during the operation was about RM16mil. He said further seizures could follow as investigations continue. 'The statement-taking process for the individual has been postponed to a later date due to health concerns,' he added. So far, the MACC have recorded the statements of 53 witnesses. On June 3, the MACC disclosed that it had seized assets worth around RM143mil linked to the case.
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
MACC secures RM4.5mil forfeiture linked to 1MDB from Swiss bank account
MACC said this marks the first successful forfeiture of overseas assets linked to 1MDB without involving prosecution. (AP pic) PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has secured the forfeiture of US$954,299.58 (RM4.5 million) from a Swiss bank account linked to the misappropriation of 1MDB funds. MACC said the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the forfeiture today after the deputy public prosecutor informed the court that there were no objections or claims made by any party during the proceedings. 'Justice K Muniandy granted the application to forfeit the funds held in a BSI Bank account in Switzerland under the name of Derivale Ltd, whose beneficiary is Azlin Alias,' it said in a statement. The forfeiture was carried out under Section 56 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. According to MACC, this marks the first successful forfeiture of overseas assets without involving prosecution. It said the funds will now be transferred to the government as part of ongoing recovery efforts related to the 1MDB scandal. Last month, MACC chief Azam Baki said repatriating assets linked to 1MDB remained a difficult process as many of these stolen assets were located overseas. He said the complex nature of the case made international cooperation crucial, especially when it came to tracing and retrieving funds that were siphoned into multiple countries. Azam also said Malaysia lost an estimated RM277 billion to corruption between 2018 and 2023 – an average of RM55 billion a year – describing the amount as 'very alarming'.
