Daim seeks judicial review to unfreeze assets

-filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and his family have filed an application for leave to commence a judicial review seeking to unfreeze their assets worth millions.

The application was filed through Messrs Zharif Nizamuddin at the High Court here on Thursday (June 6).

Apart from Daim and his wife Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid the other applicants in the suit are Daim's four children and 18 companies.

The companies are: AAD Equity Sdn Bhd, Yayasan Haji Zainuddin, Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, Anchor Point Sdn Bhd, Kangkung Catering Sdn Bhd, Adrihaniz Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Maluri Sdn Bhd, Amiraz Sdn Bhd, Ridana Sdn Bhd, Daan Sdn Bhd, Maya Seni Holdings Sdn Bhd, Magical Zone Sdn Bhd, Permatang Maju (M) Sdn Bhd, Brainstorms Sdn Bhd, Arida Farms Sdn Bhd, Gajah3 Resource Centre Sdn Bhd, Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd, and Selidik Jaya Sdn Bhd.

They named six respondents: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, the government and two MACC officers.

In a supporting affidavit affirmed by Na'imah, she said the applicants have been affected negatively on a macro and micro scale due to decisions, actions and words by the respondents directly, indirectly, or through vicarious liability.

She said the respondents' actions, including the freezing of assets, were "on purpose" to show that the applicants were of a corrupt family who made their wealth by illegal means.

"I have been advised by my lawyer and I verily believe that the decisions, actions and words by the MACC were for political collateral purposes," she said.

Until today, Daim and family have not been charged in court for money-laundering offences, Na'imah said.

Among the reliefs they are seeking in the application is a court declaration that the freezing of assets was illegal as it had violated their constitutional right and was made with mala fide (bad intention).

They are also seeking a mandamus order to quash the freeze order on their accounts as well as general damages.

The application for leave has been fixed for hearing before Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh on Wednesday (June 12).