KUALA LUMPUR – Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin is expected to face two graft charges next week, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the two charges would be made under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 for alleged failure to declare assets.
Azam, who confirmed the charges when contacted by Scoop today, also said that the tycoon had been discharged from hospital and was expected to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Monday or Tuesday.
“Discussions have been made with the lawyers to charge him next week,” Azam said.
“He is expected to be charged with two offences under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 next week.”
Scoop reported earlier today that Daim had been discharged from hospital after a two-week treatment period.
Speaking to Scoop, MACC’s anti-money laundering division director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin said that the commission was exploring all available options for the prosecution process against Daim.
The MACC’s investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering against Daim, based on information from the Pandora Papers since last February, led to a notice served under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 on June 7.
Despite five extensions granted, Daim’s assets were not declared within the stipulated 30-day period.
“As part of the MACC investigation process, the public prosecutor issued a seizure notice for Ilham Tower on December 18, in accordance with Section 38(1) of (the MACC Act 2009),” Zamri said, referring to the section on seizure of immovable property.
Currently, Daim is being investigated by the MACC over the revelations in the Pandora Papers, which linked him and his proxies to offshore businesses worth at least US$31 million (RM146.7 million).
The MACC is investigating Daim under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Yesterday, Azam said that Daim should have been brought before the court earlier, as the commission had already received approval from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
However, due to health reasons during his hospitalisation, charges could not be filed immediately.
Daim’s wife, Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, faced a similar charge in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Wednesday for alleged failure to comply with a notice by not declaring 12 properties, including companies Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, one Mercedes-Benz EQC400, one Mercedes-Benz SL 500, and properties including the Ilham Tower, a house in Persiaran Bukit Tunku, four lots of land in Bukit Tunku and one lot each in Penang and Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
Na’imah, who recorded a not guilty plea, had insisted that the charge was politically motivated and had vowed to fight it.
On January 8, Daim was admitted to hospital. However, it was not disclosed why he needed to be there.
On January 17, Daim’s legal team, led by former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, went to the high court here to challenge the MACC’s probe.
The MACC’s investigation into Daim was opened nearly a year ago, in February 2023, based on the mention of his name in the 2021 Pandora Papers.
The court ordered RM250,000 bail on Na’imah, as well as to have her passport surrendered to the court. – January 25, 2024