KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin is expected to be charged in the Sessions Court here this Monday for allegedly failing to comply with a notice to declare his assets.
In a statement, Daim said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had recorded his statement yesterday.
“My lawyer has been informed that I will be charged this Monday for an offence under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which is related to the disclosure of assets.
“So be it. I look forward to my day in court,” he said today.
Meanwhile, Daim’s lawyer, Rajesh Nagarajan, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed the matter.
Last Wednesday, the MACC confirmed it had obtained permission to charge Daim in court, but it had to be deferred after he was admitted to a private hospital.
According to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, they obtained permission from the Attorney-General’s Chambers last week.
He said the former finance minister was admitted before MACC obtained the greenlight to press charges. However, there were no explanations as to the reason for Daim being warded.
Daim was finance minister from 1984 to 1991.
Meanwhile, Daim’s wife, Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, was charged in the Sessions Court here on January 23 for failing to comply with a notice to declare her assets, which include Menara Ilham and several properties in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Prior to that, Nai’mah and her two sons were summoned to the MACC headquarters to record their statements in connection with the commission’s investigation against Daim, who is also a businessman.
According to MACC, the investigation into Daim was initiated based on information obtained from the Pandora Papers, which disclosed details related to confidential documents of wealthy and influential individuals worldwide hiding their wealth through offshore services or companies outside of their countries.
The investigation papers on the case were opened in February last year.
— Bernama
