Latest news with #AMLATFPUAA
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
MACC moves to forfeit Daim-linked Menara Ilham
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will apply for the forfeiture of Menara Ilham, a building owned by the family of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin. This follows the MACC receiving authorisation from the deputy public prosecutor to seize the building on Jalan Binjai for a second time. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the forfeiture would be carried out under Section 55 or Section 56 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001. "We have already submitted an application under Section 51 of AMLATFPUAA (to seize the tower), and the next step will be to file an application under Section 56 or 55 of the same Act to forfeit the asset (Ilham Tower)," he said when contacted. Section 55 allows for the forfeiture of property following a conviction, while Section 56 provides for civil forfeiture without the need for prosecution or conviction. Commenting on the second seizure of Menara Ilham, Azam said it involved two different legal provisions. "Previously (the December 2023 seizure) was carried out under the MACC Act, while this time it involves the AMLATFPUAA," he said. Yesterday, the MACC announced that the seizure prohibits all dealings involving the transfer of ownership of the property. Ilham Tower, located in downtown Kuala Lumpur near the Petronas Twin Towers, houses a four-star hotel, office spaces, a gallery, and other facilities. This is not the first time the MACC has seized the 60-storey tower. In December 2023, the MACC invoked its powers to take control of the 274-metre-tall skyscraper, estimated to be worth between RM1.5 billion and RM2 billion. Sources said the tower was seized for 18 months, the longest duration granted to the MACC to date. The move was understood to be part of an investigation into a corporate transaction valued at RM2.3 billion involving publicly listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Ilham Tower seized again by MACC
PETALING JAYA: The iconic Ilham Tower (pic) has been seized again by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – this time under a different Act. The anti-graft body did so after receiving legal authorisation for the seizure from the deputy public prosecutor's office. The tower, owned by the family of the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, whose widow Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid is facing charges in court, had been seized in 2023 but the order expired recently. With the new order, all dealings related to the 274m-tall tower's transfer of ownership will be prohibited. The MACC said it had ordered the immediate seizure of the 60-storey skyscraper under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001. 'Through a notice of seizure of immovable property under the section on June 4, the authorisation for seizure was granted pursuant to the powers conferred upon the Public Prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). 'This means the deputy public prosecutor is satisfied with the information provided by the MACC related to an offence under subsection 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 for this case,' it said in a statement yesterday. The tower was originally seized by the MACC in December 2023 due to an offence under the MACC Act 2009. That seizure order expired after 18 months. The seizure is believed to be part of an anti-money laundering probe that started in late May this year over a RM2.3bil (US$500mil) corporate transaction in November 1997 involving public-listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM), both Umno-linked entities. Meanwhile, lawyers for Na'imah has issued a statement, labelling the seizure as 'pure harassment'. 'The same building has already been seized by the MACC and yet, is now being seized again. 'In short, they want to keep seizing our client's property even though there is no evidence of corruption. 'We will, on behalf of our client, challenge the seizure of Ilham Tower in court immediately,' said lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal. On May 22, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said eight investigation papers had been opened into the assets owned by Daim, his family and proxies, which had not been declared to the MACC during the initial 2023 investigation. On Wednesday, the High Court allowed an application by the MACC to freeze £132mil worth of assets in London that were also allegedly linked to Na'imah and her family.
![[UPDATED] Na'imah to challenge MACC's second seizure of Ilham Tower](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FIlhamtower0506_1749128477.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Na'imah to challenge MACC's second seizure of Ilham Tower
KUALA LUMPUR: Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid will challenge in court the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) second seizure of Ilham Tower. In a statement, her lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal described the repeated action as "pure harassment" and accused the MACC of acting beyond the bounds of the law. "This is the most ridiculous action yet taken by the MACC. The same building has already been seized, and yet it is now being seized again. Is the MACC playing musical chairs with the law?" the statement read. The lawyers also criticised the authorities for allegedly targeting Na'imah's late husband, former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, despite no corruption charges having been brought against him. "It bears repeating that, despite the prime minister and the MACC chief's repeated allegations and insinuations against Daim, no offence of corruption has been brought against him. "Now, having failed to bring any charges, they are harassing our client with a second seizure," they said. They added that the move, without any evidence of wrongdoing, violated the rule of law and amounted to persecution. Earlier, the MACC said it had been authorised to seize Ilham Tower once again, a building owned by Daim's family. The commission said it had obtained authorisation from the deputy public prosecutor. According to the MACC, the seizure was based on a Notice of Seizure of Immovable Property under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA), dated June 4. It added that authorisation for the seizure was granted pursuant to powers conferred on the public prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Ilham Tower, located in downtown Kuala Lumpur near the Petronas Twin Towers, houses a four-star hotel, office spaces, a gallery, and other facilities. This is not the first time the MACC has seized the In December 2023, it was reported that the MACC had invoked its powers to seize ownership of the multi-million ringgit tower. Sources said the seizure period was 18 months, the longest ever obtained by the commission. It was understood that the move was part of the MACC's investigation into a corporate transaction valued at RM2.3 billion involving publicly listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM). A news portal had reported that the seizure was linked to Daim's refusal to comply with MACC requests to declare his and his family's financial holdings. However, the MACC had previously seized various immovable properties, including land, fishing vessels, and oil tankers, as part of its investigations. The seizure notice for Ilham Tower was dated Dec 18, 2023, and published as an advertisement in several newspapers, including the New Straits Times, on Dec 21 the same year.
Malaysiakini
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
MACC gets approval to seize Daim's Ilham Tower again
The MACC said it has obtained approval to seize Daim Zainuddin's Ilham Tower, a popular corporate building in central Kuala Lumpur. In 2023, the MACC seized the building under the MACC Act 2009. The anti-graft agency announced today that it will seize the property under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amlatfpuaa) 2001...
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
MACC seizes Ilham Tower again under AMLA provisions
KUALA LUMPUR: Ilham Tower, located on Jalan Binjai and believed to be owned by the family of the late former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, has once again been seized, following an earlier seizure on Dec 18, 2023. In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the latest action was carried out under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, via a notice dated June 4, 2025. 'Through the Notice of Seizure of Immovable Property, the seizure was authorised under powers granted to the Public Prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). 'The deputy public prosecutor was satisfied with information provided by an MACC officer linking the property to an offence under subsection 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001,' the statement read. As a result, the MACC investigating officer has been ordered to seize Ilham Tower. All transactions relating to the transfer of ownership of the property are now prohibited, and any failure to comply with the notice constitutes an offence under the same Act. On Dec 18, 2023, the 60-storey building was first seized by the MACC in connection with an alleged misappropriation of public funds exceeding RM2.3 billion. Last month, MACC initiated eight new investigation papers against the late Daim, following fresh intelligence regarding properties and assets allegedly linked to him, his family members and proxies. On Tuesday, the MACC succeeded in its application to freeze overseas assets belonging to Daim's wife, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid and her family, amounting to £132 million (RM758.2 million), which include seven properties and one bank account. The application was made under Section 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 to prevent the dissipation of assets while investigations are ongoing.
