KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was charged in the Sessions Court here today with failing to declare assets, including RM14.7 million in cash, millions in various foreign currencies and gold bars.
Ismail Sabri, 66, who is the Bera MP, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge Suzana Hussin.
According to the charge, Ismail Sabri is accused of intentionally providing a written statement that failed to comply with the terms of a notice issued under Section 36(1)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 (Act 694), dated January 7, 2025.
The notice was served on him by an MACC officer on January 10, 2025, requiring him to declare specified assets, which he allegedly failed to do.
The assets listed in the charge comprise cash in various currencies, namely RM14,772,150; SGD6,132,350; US$1,461,400; CHF3 million; €12,164,150; ¥363 million; £50,250; NZ$44,600; AED34.75 million; and A$352,850, as well as five Suisse Fine Gold bars.
The offence was allegedly committed at the MACC headquarters at No 2, Lebuh Wawasan, Precinct 7, Putrajaya, on February 7, 2025.
The charge was framed under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM100,000 upon conviction.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, while Ismail Sabri was represented by lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad.
The former prime minister was initially scheduled to be charged on August 7, but proceedings were postponed until today after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) due to health issues.
Suzana postponed the case after Amer Hamzah sought an adjournment, saying Ismail Sabri was experiencing possible arrhythmia and was scheduled to undergo a pacemaker implantation procedure.
