PUTRAJAYA: The Attorney General’s Chambers has yet to decide whether to prosecute anyone in connection with the asset declaration by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (pic)Yaakob.
This follows Ismail and his former political secretary, Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus, choosing not to challenge the prosecution’s application to forfeit over RM169mil in cash seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the Deputy Public Prosecutor handling the case has not yet decided whether to charge any individual in it.
“Our investigation is complete and we will leave it to the DPP to decide whether to charge anyone.
Following the decision not to challenge the forfeiture, the process starts today and the funds will eventually be deposited into the government’s coffers,” he told reporters at the MACC headquarters on Tuesday (Sept 8).
It was reported that the Sessions Court was informed that Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar will not contest the prosecution’s application to forfeit more than RM169mil in cash seized by theMACC.
MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat told the court this on Monday (Sept 8) this during the case mention before Judge Suzana Hussin.
Mahadi said both respondents, through their lawyers, had sent a letter dated August 28 to the court to convey their position.
“We are requesting that a third-party gazette under Section 41(2) of the MACC Act 2009 be issued for this application. We will try to expedite the process,” he said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar, confirmed the contents of the letter.
Suzana allowed the prosecution’s request to gazette a notice to third parties with an interest in the cash and set October 1 for the next case mention.
Amer Hamzah also requested that both respondents be excused from the proceedings, a request the prosecution did not oppose.
On July 7, MACC applied to forfeit over RM169mil in cash allegedly belonging to Ismail Sabri, seized from Mohammad Anuar, to the Malaysian government. This includes RM14.77mil in Malaysian currency; SGD6.13mil in Singapore Dollars, USD1.46mil in US Dollars, CHF3mil in Swiss Francs, EUR12.16mil in Euros, JPY363mil in Japanese Yen, GBP50,250 in British Pounds, NZD44,600 in New Zealand Dollars, AED34.75mil in Emirati Dirham, and AUD352,850 in Australian Dollars.
The application was made under Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009 after the commission was satisfied that the money kept by Mohammad Anuar belonged to Ismail Sabri and was linked to an offence under Section 36(2) of the same Act.
The MACC then summoned Ismail Sabri several times for statements concerning his asset declarations.
It also seized RM170mil in cash in various foreign currencies and 16kg of gold bars, estimated to be worth RM7mil, as part of the corruption and money laundering investigation involving the Bera MP.
The seizure followed raids on residences and offices used as “safe houses,” linked to the investigation of four of Ismail Sabri’s senior aides detained in February.
