Daim's widow to challenge London asset freeze order
PETALING JAYA: Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid (pic) will challenge the court order obtained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to freeze assets in London worth RM759mil linked to her and her family.
Na'imah, the widow of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, said while this came as no surprise, it was done despite no crime of any kind being proven against her husband.
'My lawyers will immediately challenge and set aside the order. I will challenge this order to defend what should never be taken from any of us; our rights, our voice,' she said in a statement.
In response, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission froze seven properties and one bank account belonging to Na'imah to prevent the assets from being disposed of while investigations are ongoing.
He said the move is part of the commission's preliminary actions to facilitate further investigation.
'In this case, we have submitted a court application for a prohibition order to freeze the overseas assets. If such an order is not obtained, there is a high possibility that the assets, believed not to have been declared, may be disposed of,' he said in a statement.
Na'imah claimed she was not notified of the asset seizure by the MACC and became aware of the order through media reports.
'Seizure of property by the government without notice to the legal owner is a dangerous precedent. The MACC obtained this ex parte order secretly, in silence behind closed doors. I was never given a chance to speak,' she said.
Na'imah said the law under which the MACC is acting, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, requires that such orders only be granted where there is a serious offence as defined under the Second Schedule.
'No such offence or charge has ever been proven or brought against me or Daim, neither during his lifetime nor after his death,' she said.
On Tuesday, the High Court allowed an application by the MACC to freeze assets worth UK£132mil (RM759mil) in London, England, allegedly owned by Na'imah and her family.
Justice Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the ex-parte application under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, for investigation under Section 4(1) of the same Act.
Daim died on Nov 12 last year at 86. Following his death, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court discharged and acquitted him of charges related to failing to comply with a notice under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
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