KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Daim Zainuddin’s only daughter, Asnida Abdul Daim, has been charged with failing to declare her assets while warrants of arrest have been issued for two of her brothers.
The two sons of the late former finance minister – Muhammed Amir Zainuddin and Muhammed Amin Zainuddin – were slapped with the arrest warrants after they failed to appear in court despite notices issued by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Yesterday, Asnida claimed trial to the charges of failing to declare her assets to the MACC.
The 65-year-old pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to her before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad.
According to the charge sheet, the assets involved are shareholdings in five companies: Amiraz Sdn Bhd, Arida Farms Sdn Bhd, Kangkung Catering Sdn Bhd, Transgrade Sdn Bhd, and Gajah3 Foods Sdn Bhd.
The offence was allegedly committed at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Dec 13, 2023.
Asnida faces a maximum five years imprisonment and is liable to a fine of up to RM100,000 if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat offered bail at RM100,000, although the offence is non-bailable. He also asked the court to impound Asnida’s passport pending the disposal of the case.
“The accused is often abroad, so this is necessary to control her movement,” he said.
Judge Rosli fixed bail at RM50,000 in one surety. The court set May 21 for mention.
Meanwhile, Asnida’s counsel Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar said the charge against his client was for a technical offence and that she was merely a witness in an investigation.
“This is not a serious or a grave offence, this is a shortage of five properties which they now want to criminalise and send her to prison for.
“The MACC asked a witness for a list and then says the list is insufficient.
“There is no question about her running away as she is 65 years old,” Gurdial added.
In another court, Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan issued the warrants of arrest against Muhammed Amir, 31, and Muhammed Amin, 28.
A warrant was also issued against a third individual, Josephine Premla Sivaretnam, 65, who is believed to be an associate of Daim’s family.
The magistrate said there was reason to believe that the three had absconded.
“I believe they had knowledge of the notices issued by the MACC yet failed to appear,” she said.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat told the court the three had been summomed more than once.
“Muhammed Amir and Muhammed Amin have been summoned three times and Josephine twice,” DPP Mahadi said 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 had given short notices to his clients.
“There was no mention that my clients are going to be accused today or to be charged. They were only supposed to participate in giving statements.”
Muhammad Nizamuddin asked for an interim stay of the court order and said the defence would make a proper filing today.
The court allowed the interim stay application.
