Court orders forfeiture of RM169mil linked to Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: More than RM169mil of monies in various currencies, linked to former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has been forfeited by the government.

Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin made the order of forfeiture after allowing the application by the government.

Earlier, DPP Mahadi Abdul Jumaat informed the court that no third party has come forward to claim the assets or challenge the forfeiture, following a federal gazette that was published on Sept 22.

As of today, no third parties have come forward to make any claims over the assets, he said.

The third party gazette refers to a court process that publishes a notice to inform any parties that may have interest or ownership on forfeited assets or properties by the authorities.

The amount involved are: RM14,772,150; SG$6,132,350; US$1,461,400 and CHF3 million (Swiss Franc); EUR12,164,150; JPY363,000,000 (Yen); GBP£50,250; NZ$44,600; AED34,750,000 (Emirati Dirham) and AUD352,850.

On July 7, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) filed an application to forfeit over RM169mil in cash belonging to Ismail Sabri.

It named Ismail Sabri’s former political secretary, Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus and the former prime minister himself as first and second respondents.

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.

On Sept 8, the Sessions Court was informed that Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar did not intend to challenge the prosecution’s application for the forfeiture.

The forfeiture is part of raids on residences and offices linked to MACC’s investigation on Ismail Sabri and his senior aides earlier this year.