KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court today formally forfeited to the Government of Malaysia a sum of cash exceeding RM169 million, belonging to former prime minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Judge Suzana Hussin ruled on the forfeiture of the funds after Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor, Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, acting as the applicant, informed the Court that no third parties had appeared to claim an interest in the assets.
“The respondents (Ismail Sabri and his former political secretary, Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus) did not file any objection to this application, a fact which the Court had recorded on a previous date (September 8).
“The Court finds that no claims have been made by any third parties in relation to these assets.
“Therefore, the Court allows the applicant’s request for the listed assets to be forfeited to the Government of Malaysia under Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009,” said Suzana during the proceeding.
The Court had issued a third-party notification, which refers to the issuance of a public notice, informing any party who may have a legal right or interest in the seized or forfeited property to come forward and assert their claim.
Earlier, Mahadi submitted that during a case mention on September 8, the Court had officially recorded that both respondents did not intend to challenge the MACC’s application for the forfeiture of the funds to the Government of Malaysia.
“The Court had granted leave to publish the Federal Government Gazette notice to third parties. This notice was published on September 22, and has since been filed via the e-judiciary system.
“Accordingly, we hereby apply for the assets listed in the application notice, with a total value exceeding RM169 million, to be forfeited to the Government under Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009,” Mahadi said during the proceedings, which was also attended by Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar’s counsels, K. Ragunath and Joshua Tay, respectively.
Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar had submitted a letter dated August 28 via their legal counsel to the Court, formally stating their position not to contest the forfeiture application.
On July 7, the MACC applied to forfeit over RM169 million in cash, seized from Mohammad Anuar, which belongs to Ismail Sabri.
The total sum comprises the following amounts in various currencies: RM14,772,150; SGD6,132,350; USD1,461,400; CHF 3,000,000 (Swiss Francs); EUR 12,164,150; JPY363,000,000; GBP 50,250; NZD 44,600; AED 34,750,000 (Emirati Dirham); and AUD 352,850.
The application was filed pursuant to Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009, following the commission’s determination that the funds held by Mohammad Anuar were the property of Ismail Sabri and were connected to an offence under Section 36(2) of the same Act.
Ismail Sabri had been summoned on multiple occasions to provide statements concerning the declaration of assets he had submitted to the MACC.
The MACC had seized RM170 million in cash consisting of various foreign currencies and 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bullion, estimated at RM7 million, in connection with the corruption and money laundering probe into the Bera Member of Parliament.
These seizures were executed during searches conducted at a residence and an office, which are believed to have been used as a ‘safe house’, as a result of an investigation into four senior aides of Ismail Sabri who were detained in February.
“The respondents (Ismail Sabri and his former political secretary, Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus) did not file any objection to this application, a fact which the Court had recorded on a previous date (September 8).
“The Court finds that no claims have been made by any third parties in relation to these assets.
“Therefore, the Court allows the applicant’s request for the listed assets to be forfeited to the Government of Malaysia under Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009,” said Suzana during the proceeding.
The Court had issued a third-party notification, which refers to the issuance of a public notice, informing any party who may have a legal right or interest in the seized or forfeited property to come forward and assert their claim.
Earlier, Mahadi submitted that during a case mention on September 8, the Court had officially recorded that both respondents did not intend to challenge the MACC’s application for the forfeiture of the funds to the Government of Malaysia.
“The Court had granted leave to publish the Federal Government Gazette notice to third parties. This notice was published on September 22, and has since been filed via the e-judiciary system.
“Accordingly, we hereby apply for the assets listed in the application notice, with a total value exceeding RM169 million, to be forfeited to the Government under Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009,” Mahadi said during the proceedings, which was also attended by Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar’s counsels, K. Ragunath and Joshua Tay, respectively.
Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar had submitted a letter dated August 28 via their legal counsel to the Court, formally stating their position not to contest the forfeiture application.
On July 7, the MACC applied to forfeit over RM169 million in cash, seized from Mohammad Anuar, which belongs to Ismail Sabri.
The total sum comprises the following amounts in various currencies: RM14,772,150; SGD6,132,350; USD1,461,400; CHF 3,000,000 (Swiss Francs); EUR 12,164,150; JPY363,000,000; GBP 50,250; NZD 44,600; AED 34,750,000 (Emirati Dirham); and AUD 352,850.
The application was filed pursuant to Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009, following the commission’s determination that the funds held by Mohammad Anuar were the property of Ismail Sabri and were connected to an offence under Section 36(2) of the same Act.
Ismail Sabri had been summoned on multiple occasions to provide statements concerning the declaration of assets he had submitted to the MACC.
The MACC had seized RM170 million in cash consisting of various foreign currencies and 16 kilogrammes of pure gold bullion, estimated at RM7 million, in connection with the corruption and money laundering probe into the Bera Member of Parliament.
These seizures were executed during searches conducted at a residence and an office, which are believed to have been used as a ‘safe house’, as a result of an investigation into four senior aides of Ismail Sabri who were detained in February.