Ismail Sabri to Challenge Charge of Failing to Declare Assets

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s defence team will file an application to challenge the validity of the charge against the former Prime Minister for allegedly failing to declare assets, including RM14.7 million in cash and five gold bars.

Defence lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad confirmed the matter but declined to elaborate further.

“For now, based on the charge, there are legal issues that we will raise, and we will certainly challenge the propriety and validity of the charge,” he told the media after proceedings in Ismail Sabri’s case today.

Earlier, before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin, the lawyer requested that the remaining documents to be used in the case be handed over to the defence before the next mention date.

Amer Hamzah said the documents were needed for the defence to review them and file the appropriate application before the next court date.

At the start of proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin informed the court that the prosecution had handed over part of the documents — comprising five volumes — to be used in the case this morning.

Among them were seizure documents and documents containing a list of assets previously declared by Ismail Sabri.

The court subsequently ordered the prosecution to hand over the remaining documents to the defence before the next mention date.

“The DPP (Deputy Public Prosecutor) is to take note that the documents must be handed over (to the defence) before the date I set. The court fixes Dec 4 for further mention,” Judge Suzana said.

On Aug 27, Ismail Sabri pleaded not guilty to one charge of failing to declare assets comprising RM14.7 million in cash, five kilogrammes of gold bars, silver pieces and gold coins.

The cash involved Singapore dollars amounting to S$1,461,400 (RM5,885,661.28); Swiss francs of CHF3,000,000 (RM15,001,831.12); euros of €12,164,150 (RM57,098,294.81); Japanese yen of ¥363,000,000 (RM9,183,892.75); British pounds of £50,250 (RM275,053.76); New Zealand dollars of NZ$44,600 (RM106,858.24); UAE dirhams of AED34,750,000 (RM38,106,597.49); and Australian dollars of A$352,850 (RM1,020,415.27).

He was charged under Section 36(2) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM100,000 upon conviction.

UTUSAN