5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Daim's assets overseas valued at over RM3bil, says MACC
MACC said the overseas assets are found in more than 10 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Indonesia, and several African countries.
PETALING JAYA : High-value overseas assets linked to the late Daim Zainuddin, his family, and their proxies are estimated to exceed RM3 billion, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said today.
MACC said the assets are found in more than 10 countries, including the US, the UK, Switzerland, Singapore, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, and several African countries.
They are also found in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, both British territories, as well as Jersey, a British crown dependency.
MACC said it made the discovery with the help of the UK's National Crime Agency and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC).
'Requests for more information on assets located in countries such as the US, Switzerland, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Italy and Japan are under way.
'These efforts are being coordinated with Bank Negara Malaysia, the IACCC, and mutual legal assistance applications through the Attorney-General's Chambers to enable legal and comprehensive enforcement measures,' it said in a statement.
MACC said it had filed applications for restraining orders against assets in Singapore and Jersey at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 19, with hearings having taken place on June 23-25.
These applications involve four accounts valued at RM1.15 billion in Jersey, and 12 accounts in Singapore keeping a total of RM540 million.
On June 3, MACC froze seven properties and a bank account in London believed to be worth 132 million pounds (RM758.2 million), reportedly linked to Daim's widow, Naimah Khalid, and her family.
The assets in question comprise two commercial buildings at St Mary Axe and One Crown Court, and three luxury residences at Bryanston Square, Bryanston Mews, and Lancaster Gate.
The other assets include two residences at Gloucester Place, and a CAF Bank Ltd (UK) account held by The Ilham Foundation.
MACC had also filed an application in the High Court to forfeit Ilham Tower, a 60-storey tower in Kuala Lumpur linked to Daim.
The anti-graft agency said today it had recorded statements from Naimah and her son, Amir Zainuddin, on June 14 concerning undisclosed extraordinary assets.
'A statement will also be recorded from her second son, Amin Zainuddin, who is currently in the UK.
'All three are major shareholders in Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, the company that holds majority shares in Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd, and has been identified as the beneficial owner of Ilham Tower,' it said.
MACC said it issued notices for asset declaration yesterday to 22 individuals identified as close relatives and associates of Daim and Naimah for purposes of tracing and verifying asset ownership.
