26/06/2025

THURSDAY | JUNE 26, 2025

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Syed Saddiq acquitted of CBT, money laundering

MACC probe into Ismail Sabri completed PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that an investigation into former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been completed and a forfeiture application for cash amounting to RM170 million is expected to be filed within the next two weeks. Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the investigation papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the DPP has agreed to proceed with the application for the forfeiture of the cash. “The affidavit application and related documents are being prepared. It is up to Ismail Sabri to challenge our application.” However, he clarified that no decision has been made regarding criminal charges against the country’s ninth prime minister. Ismail Sabri had appeared at the MACC headquarters many times to assist in probes into alleged corruption and money laundering involving the use and procurement of funds for the promotion and publicity of the Keluarga Malaysia programme during his administration from August 2021 to November 2022. Azam said MACC has recorded a statement from Ismail Sabri’s former son-in-law Datuk Jovian Mandagie in relation to the investigation into Ismail Sabri’s asset ownership. The investigation followed a directive for Ismail Sabri to declare his assets under Section 36(1) of the MACC Act 2009. Following that, MACC seized RM170 million in cash and confiscated 16kg of pure gold bars estimated to be worth RM7 million as part of the corruption and money laundering probe. – Bernama RM11m highway fund misuse detected PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detected the use of RM11 million in digital currency, believed to be proceeds from the misappropriation of sukuk funds meant for highway construction, involving several individual and company accounts. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said: “Further investigations are ongoing.” He said at least 10 more witnesses will be called soon to assist in the investigation. MACC has recorded statements from 55 individuals and made nine arrests, he said. Raids have also been carried out, including at the main suspect’s residence, with 14 individual accounts and eight company accounts frozen, involving a total of RM156 million. He said the probe under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 also involves the misappropriation of funds related to alcohol and unlicensed gambling activities, estimated to involve RM25 million. – Bernama Pilot cheated in haj package scam SEREMBAN: A female pilot has lodged a police report claiming that she was cheated in a haj package deal, resulting in a loss of RM194,970. Nilai police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the victim, in her 30s, filed the report at 11.23am on Tuesday, saying she had dealt with an individual from an umrah travel agency, who offered the haj package on Jan 14. “The victim, who works for a local airline, made several transfers to the agency’s account as full payment for the package. “However, she realised that she had been scammed on March 15 after finding out that the agency was no longer in operation and she would not be able to perform the haj as promised.” He said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code and efforts to trace the individual are underway. – Bernama

Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has filed a forfeiture application for the Menara Ilham building linked to the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin. Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the 60-storey building is among the latest assets subject to forfeiture proceedings involving Daim, his wife Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid and several of their local proxies. “We will initiate the (forfeiture) process today, and it is not a simple task as there are many steps involved and the documents (related to Menara Ilham) are extensive. “In the next one to two weeks, more PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday acquitted and discharged Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of four charges involving criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of property and money laundering linked to funds from Angkatan Bersatu Anak Muda (Armada). A three-member bench comprising judges Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Datuk Azman Abdullah and Datuk Noorin Badaruddin allowed Syed Saddiq’s appeal to overturn his conviction and sentence of seven years’ jail, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov 9, 2023. “We find that the prosecution failed to prove the abetment charge against the appellant. The evidence presented was not credible and did not support the misappropriation charge under Section 403 (of the Penal Code). Additionally, the money laundering charges under Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 could not be sustained. “The appellant is acquitted and discharged of all charges,” said Noorin, who read out the unanimous decision. Syed Saddiq, 32, had been accused of abetting Armada’s former assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali in committing CBT involving RM1 million. The alleged offence, framed under Section 406 of the Penal Code, was said to have occurred at CIMB Bank Berhad in Menara CIMB KL Sentral on March 6, 2020. On the second charge, he had been accused of misappropriating RM120,000 from the Maybank Islamic Berhad account of Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise by instructing Rafiq Hakim to dispose of the funds. The act was alleged to have taken place at Malayan Banking Berhad in Taman Pandan Jaya between April 8 and 21, 2018, Bernama reported. Syed Saddiq had also faced two charges of money laundering, each involving the transfer of RM50,000 from his Maybank Islamic account to his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account. These transactions, allegedly proceeds of unlawful activities, were said to have occurred at a bank in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru on June 16 and 19, 2018. The money laundering charges were o Evidence presented not credible and did not support allegations: Appeals Court

Noorin said the charge of CBT against Syed Saddiq (centre) could not stand as it was undisputed that the RM1 million withdrawn was used for Armada’s programmes and not misappropriated.

suspended an order to freeze seven properties, including three luxury residences in London, and one bank account, allegedly belonging to Na’imah and her family. Previously, MACC had obtained an ex parte order to freeze the properties and bank account, all of which are valued at EUR$132 million (RM758.2 million), under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. According to the MACC application, investigations found that the movable and immovable assets were matters or evidence relating to alleged offences under Section 4(1) of the Act. – Bernama “In our view, directing someone to withdraw funds cannot be equated with ‘disposal’ or ‘conversion’ as defined under Section 405. “There must be actual misappropriation. In this case, there is no evidence that the appellant benefitted personally from the funds, which were entirely used for Armada’s activities,” she said. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the prosecution would file an appeal to the Federal Court against the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit Syed Saddiq in his RM1.2 million corruption case involving Bersatu Youth funds. “I was informed by DPP Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin that if they were to take any further action, it would be to appeal to the Federal Court.”

applications will be filed for properties linked to the individuals concerned,” he said during a press conference at the MACC headquarters yesterday. Azam also said MACC has obtained a restraining order in Malaysia against assets belonging to Daim and related parties in the United Kingdom, estimated to be worth RM700 million. UK authorities have been notified and agreed to file a restraining order application in UK courts based on Malaysia’s request. Earlier this month, MACC seized Menara Ilham after securing permission from the DPP to do so. On Monday, the High Court temporarily framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides up to 15 years’ prison and a fine of up to five times the amount involved upon conviction. Noorin said the charge of CBT could not stand as it was undisputed that the RM1 million withdrawn was used for Armada’s programmes and not misappropriated. She added that Syed Saddiq could not be found guilty of abetment when the primary offence itself failed to meet the elements required under Section 405 of the Penal Code. “The central question is whether the appellant’s alleged instruction to the 13th prosecution witness Rafiq Hakim Razali to withdraw the RM1 million amounted to abetment of CBT.

Forfeiture application filed for Menara Ilham KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian