Latest news with #RM759mil
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.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Tun Daim's widow to contest asset freeze order
PETALING JAYA: Tun Daim Zainuddin's widow Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid plans to challenge the order to freeze Daim's overseas assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) through the Kuala Lumpur High Court. "I will challenge this order to defend what should never be taken from any of us: our rights, our voice, and a country governed by law, not by fear. "I was not notified of the asset seizure by MACC, which is a shocking infringement of the most basic legal norms. It is unacceptable that this is happening in Malaysia," she said. Naimah added that she only became aware of the order through media reports and added that the government's seizure of property without notifying the legal owner sets a dangerous precedent. She then accused the MACC of obtaining the ex-parte order secretly behind closed doors, saying in a statement on Wednesday (June 4) that she was never given a chance to speak and adding that she should have been allowed to in court. Naimah then said that this action is being taken despite no crime being proven against Daim. "The law under which the MACC is acting, the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), requires 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," Na'imah added. On Tuesday (June 3), the High Court approved the MACC application to freeze assets worth UK£132mil (RM759mil) in London, United Kingdom allegedly owned by Na'imah and her family. Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the ex-parte (unilateral) application by the MACC under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001), for investigation under Section 4(1) of the same act. The assets include two commercial buildings at St Mary Axe and One Crown Court, three luxury residences in Bryanston Square, Bryanston Mews, and Lancaster Gate, two residential units at Gloucester Place, and a bank account at CAF Bank Ltd (UK) allegedly owned by The Ilham Foundation.
The Star
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Court freezes more than RM750mil in assets linked to Daim's wife, family
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has approved the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) application to freeze assets worth UK£132mil (RM759mil) in London, United Kingdom, allegedly owned by Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, the wife of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, and her family. Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the ex-parte (unilateral) application by the MACC under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001), for investigation under Section 4(1) of the same act. ALSO READ: MACC in process of seizing late Daim's assets worth billions The assets include two commercial buildings at St Mary Axe and One Crown Court, three luxury residences in Bryanston Square, Bryanston Mews, and Lancaster Gate, two residential units at Gloucester Place, and a bank account at CAF Bank Ltd (UK) allegedly owned by The Ilham Foundation. Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat confirmed the matter when contacted by reporters. On May 22, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that eight investigation papers had been opened based on new information received from foreign agencies, related to the property ownership of Daim, his family, and proxies. Azam mentioned that the latest information indicates that Daim's assets, along with those of his family and associates, were not declared to the MACC during the 2023 investigation. - Bernama
