KUALA LUMPUR: The Magistrate's Court here has issued warrants of arrest on two sons of the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and a businesswoman for failing to comply to a notice by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to face charges on Tuesday (April 7).
Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan issued the warrants of arrest against Muhammed Amir Zainuddin, 31, Muhammed Amin Zainuddin, 28, and Josephine Premla Sivaretnam, 65, after allowing the prosecution's application.
The magistrate said there was reason to believe that the three individuals had absconded.
"I believe the individuals have knowledge of the notices issued by the MACC against them yet they failed to appear.
"The prosecution's application has merit and therefore the warrants of arrest are issued" she said.
Earlier, the court heard from deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat that the three have been summoned multiple times.
"Muhammed Amir and Muhammed Amin have been summoned three times and Josephine twice, but none returned with explanations," said DPP Mahadi in his application.
Lawyer Muhammad Nizamuddin Abdul Hamid, who represented the family, told the court that Muhammed Amir and Muhammed Amin are studying law and accounting respectively in the United Kingdom.
He said MACC gave short notice to his clients, and they were unable to respond in time.
"There is no mention or document on our end that my clients were to be charged today. They were only supposed to participate in giving statements.
"Two of my clients are students and the other individual is a senior citizen, why would they abscond?" he said.
After the warrants were issued, Muhammad Nizamuddin asked for an interim stay of the court order pending a proper stay application.
He told the court that the defence would make a proper filing on Wednesday (April 8).
The court allowed the interim stay application.
