PUTRAJAYA: The authorities are still deciding whether to charge Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) or any of his aides after the former prime minister told the court that he will forfeit more than RM169mil that once belonged to him.
Ismail and his former political secretary, Datuk Mohammad Anuar Mohd Yunus, have opted to not challenge the prosecution’s application to forfeit more than RM169mil in cash seized by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency (MACC).
“Our investigation has been completed, and we will leave it to the DPP to decide whether to bring charges against anyone,” said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki during a media briefing that provided updates on several high-profile cases.
“Following the decision not to challenge the forfeiture, the process will start, and the funds will eventually be deposited into the government’s coffers,” he said.
On July 7, MACC applied to forfeit over RM169mil in cash allegedly belonging to Ismail Sabri that was found in several safe houses.
The cash included RM14,772,150; S$6,132,350, US$1,461,400, three million Swiss francs, €12,164,150, ¥363,000,000, £50,250, NZ$44,600, 34,750,000 in Emirati dirham and A$352,850.
Besides the cash in various currencies, the MACC had also found gold bars weighing 16kg valued at RM17mil at several residences and offices linked to Ismail Sabri and his four senior aides.
Yesterday, Azam said the commission concluded that the money kept by Mohammad Anuar belonged to Ismail Sabri and was linked to an offence.
Over the past several months, Ismail Sabri had been questioned several times in MACC’s probe on graft concerning funds used for the promotion and publicity of the Keluarga Malaysia programme during his tenure as prime minister from August 2021 to November 2022.
On Sept 8, the Sessions Court was informed that Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar will not challenge the prosecution’s application to forfeit the cash seized by the MACC.
MACC DPP Mahadi Abdul Jumaat had told the court that both respondents (Ismail Sabri and Mohammad Anuar), through their lawyers, had sent a letter dated Aug 28 to the court to convey their position.
