KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — The Sessions Court has formally forfeited a sum of cash exceeding RM169 million, belonging to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, to the government of Malaysia,
Judge Suzana Hussin ruled on the forfeiture of the funds after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (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 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," she said during the proceeding today.
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," he said during the proceedings, which was also attended by Ismail and Anuar’s counsels K. Ragunath and Joshua Tay, respectively.
Ismail and 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 Anuar, which is believed to belong to Ismail.
The total sum comprises the following amounts in various currencies: RM14,772,150, SG$6,132,350, US$1,461,400, 3,000,000 Swiss francs, €12,164,150, ¥363,000,000, £50,250, NZ$44,600, 34,750,000 Emirati Dirhams, and AU$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 Anuar were the property of Ismail and were connected to an offence under Section 36(2) of the same Act.
Ismail 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 16kg of pure gold bullion, estimated at RM7 million, in connection with the corruption and money laundering probe into the Bera MP.
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, who were detained in February.
