KUALA LUMPUR: Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid wants her day in court to answer the charge against her where she allegedly did not comply with the terms in a notice by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The wife of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin stood to face her charge in the Sessions Court here yesterday where she pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
According to the charge sheet, Na’imah had intentionally given a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of notice under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009, whereby she did not declare assets as stated in Appendix A.
The assets listed are two companies, i.e. Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd; two luxury cars; and eight properties, i.e. Menara Ilham in Jalan Binjai, a house in Persiaran Bukit Tunku, four land lots in Bukit Tunku, and a house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail – all in Kuala Lumpur; and one lot in Penang.
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The 67-year-old was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 and faces imprisonment up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM100,000, if convicted.
Wearing a green baju kurung, Na’imah said “yes” to the court interpreter when asked if she understood the charge.
“Saya minta bicara (I claim trial),” she said calmly while holding her arms together briefly.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi offered bail at RM500,000 and asked the court to impose additional conditions on Na’imah for her passport to be surrendered to the court and for her to report to the MACC office monthly.
However, Na’imah’s lawyer Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, a former solicitor-general II, argued that the bail was too high and his client was not a flight risk.
“There’s no fact to support why Na’imah needs to surrender her passport.
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“On the monthly report to the MACC, Na’imah is not involved in criminal cases related to terrorism that could make her a flight risk,” he said.
Na’imah’s other lawyer, M. Puravalen, said that she might need to travel overseas on an urgent basis to accompany her husband for medical treatment.
It is understood that Daim, 85, is currently unwell and hospitalised.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi fixed bail at RM250,000 in one surety and ordered Na’imah to surrender her international passport pending the completion of the case.
The court fixed March 22 for mention.
Na’imah posted bail.
During a press conference later, she read a prepared statement denying having committed any crime and claimed that the charge was politically motivated.
When asked about Daim’s condition, Na’imah refused to comment and said it was a personal matter.
