Latest news with #Na'imah
The Star
5 days 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] MACC targets seized assets in forfeiture bid over Daim's undeclared estate](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fphoto_2025-06-04_14-12-47_1749017773.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] MACC targets seized assets in forfeiture bid over Daim's undeclared estate](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] MACC targets seized assets in forfeiture bid over Daim's undeclared estate
KUALA LUMPUR: The seven properties and one bank account belonging to Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid and her family, which were seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday, are part of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin's RM2 billion estate that the commission is seeking to forfeit over allegations of non-declaration. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission applied for a restraining order to freeze the overseas assets linked to Na'imah and her family, to prevent the disposal of properties and assets by certain parties. "In this case, we have submitted a court application for a restraining order to freeze the assets located abroad. "We will also continue with further investigations into the seized accounts, as we need to ensure they are not disposed of," he said when contacted today. Sources revealed that the seven properties and one bank account belonging to Tun Daim Zainuddin's wife and her family, are being targeted by MACC for forfeiture due to non-disclosure. These properties are part of the RM2 billion estate belonging to the former finance minister and his family. It is understood that the seized assets are high-value properties identified in the eight new investigation papers recently opened by the MACC. Azam explained that if the restraining order was not obtained, there was a high likelihood that the assets that are believed not to have been declared would be disposed of. When asked if the MACC is eyeing assets in other countries, he said they were looking into it. Yesterday, the MACC obtained a court order to freeze assets worth more than £132 million (about RM758.2 million) belonging to Na'imah in London. The ex-parte order was granted by High Court Judge Datuk Azahar Abdul Hamid after the court was satisfied that the assets were potentially linked to offences under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Among the assets are two commercial buildings totalling £55.2 million; five luxury residences totalling £77.115 million and a bank account owned by Ilham Foundation. Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat confirmed this when contacted. Last month, the MACC was reported to be seeking to forfeit several overseas properties belonging to Daim that had not been declared. Azam had said that eight new investigation papers (IP) were opened in the probe into the ownership of the properties, which are worth in excess of RM2 billion. The investigation papers were initiated based on new information received from foreign agencies regarding properties and assets linked to Daim, his family members and proxies. He also said that they were looking into properties and assets abroad that were not disclosed in his previously submitted asset declaration.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
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.
![[UPDATED] Daim's widow to fight 'politically motivated' asset freeze](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fnhdaim_NSTfield_image_socialmedia.var_1749011010.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Daim's widow to fight 'politically motivated' asset freeze
KUALA LUMPUR: Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid will file a challenge to set aside the ex parte court order obtained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday to freeze assets worth more £132 million (about RM758.2 million). In a statement today, the widow of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin said she was never notified of MACC's action, calling it a shocking infringement of the most basic legal norms. "I will fight this politically motivated, reckless, vindictive and lawless action, through all legal means at my disposal," she said in a statement shared by her lawyer, Rajesh Nagarajan. The ex-parte order granted by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid involved assets such as two commercial buildings totalling £55,200,000; five luxury residences totalling £77,115,000 and a bank account owned by Ilham Foundation. Na'imah said the MACC had obtained this ex parte order secretly, in silence behind closed doors, to freeze properties abroad that are lawfully owned. She said such seizure by the government without notice to the legal owner is a dangerous precedent. "I should have been allowed to have my say in court. No reasonable person will say this was in accordance with fairness or the rules of natural justice. "They obtained the order by ambush. There is no provision under the law authorising such an ex parte application to be made. "And now they hide behind the cloak of legality to justify what is nothing short of institutionalised theft. "The most disturbing and shocking aspect of this is that it is being done despite no crime of any kind being proven against Daim," she said. Na'imah, however, said it was no surprise to her that the MACC would resort to such blatant methods, saying such tactics are natural consequences of the long and continuous smear campaign against her family since late 2022. She said she will resist the line that had been crossed and will not bow down to bullies. Previously, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said that eight new investigation papers related to Daim's family have been opened as part of the probe into properties valued at over RM2 billion. He said the commission had been conducting a probe into Daim since February 2023 and had opened several investigation papers, including the latest ones initiated recently. Daim died on Nov 12 last year, at the age of 86.
New Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Court allows Daim's widow to challenge IRB over alleged RM313mil in arrears
SHAH ALAM: The High Court today granted leave to Toh Puan Na'imah Khalid to proceed with her judicial review application to quash the Inland Revenue Board's claims that she allegedly had not settled assessments worth over RM313 million. Na'imah's lawyer S. Saravana Kumar said judge Dr Shahnaz Sulaiman granted the leave after ruling that his client's application had merits. "The judge said the attorney-general's objection that the application is vexatious and frivolous is not sustainable. "On that basis, the court has granted the leave application. So, now we will go to a substantive hearing. "We have two weeks to serve notice to the IRB that leave has been granted," he said after proceedings. Na'imah, 68, the widow of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, was not present in court today. During proceedings, Saravana appeared with co-lawyer Dharshini Sharma while the Attorney-General's Chambers was represented by federal counsel Sheryn Yong. In February, Saravana had told the court that the IRB's notice of additional taxation issued against Na'imah in August last year was flawed and unlawful. He had said Na'imah was being double taxed on her income despite Section 45(2)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 allowing a wife to be jointly taxed with her husband. He said imposing the same tax on Na'imah constituted double taxation, which led to their judicial review application. Na'imah filed a judicial review application naming the IRB director-general as respondent. She described the agency's decision to raise the Notice of Additional Assessment for 2018 as tainted with illegality, impropriety, irrationality, abuse of process and erroneous. Previously, Na'imah failed in her bid to obtain an interim stay against the payment after Shahnaz ruled that there was no exceptional circumstances in the case. However, the Court of Appeal granted Na'imah a postponement on the payment pending her appeal at the Court of Appeal.
