Kuala Lumpur: Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has pleaded not guilty at the sessions court here to a charge of failing to comply with a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) notice requiring a declaration of assets.
Daim was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 with failing to comply with the terms of an asset declaration notice issued by the anti-graft agency.
He is accused of failing to declare his ownership in 38 companies, 19 plots of land in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur, as well as six properties.
Daim is also alleged to have failed to declare his ownership of Amanah Saham Nasional and Amanah Saham Berhad (ASB) accounts as well as seven luxury vehicles.
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If convicted, Daim faces a jail term of up to five years and a fine of not more than RM100,000.
Judge Azura Alwi set bail at RM280,000 with one surety.
She also exempted Daim from having to surrender his passport to the court and from reporting to MACC on a monthly basis.
The court fixed March 22 for case management.
“I also hope the prosecution and defence will not make any comments about the case,” she added.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin asked the court to set bail for Daim at between RM250,000 and RM500,000 in one surety.
He also requested that the court order the accused to hand over his passport pending disposal of the trial, and to report to the nearest MACC office once a month.
Wan Shaharuddin also urged the court to advise the defence not to make comments that would be sub judice.
Daim’s lawyer M Puravalen objected, saying there was no need for his client’s passport to be impounded or for him to report to MACC on a monthly basis.
He said Daim is a kidney transplant patient and is receiving ongoing treatment.
“He had a minor stroke a few years ago.
“He also has difficulty in hearing because of the medication and he only has one eye now after the other was removed due to a fungal infection,” Puravalen added.
Last week, Daim’s wife Naimah Khalid also claimed trial before the sessions court for allegedly failing to comply with an MACC asset declaration notice.
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