Ismail Sabri, 66, who is Bera Member of Parliament, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to a charge of failing to declare assets, including millions of ringgit in cash, foreign currencies and gold.
The Bera MP entered the plea after the charge was read before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin.
According to the charge, Ismail Sabri allegedly intentionally provided a written statement that did not comply with a notice issued under Section 36(1)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
The notice, dated Jan 7, 2025, was served on Ismail Sabri by a MACC officer on Jan 10, requiring him to declare his assets.
The assets allegedly not declared included RM14.77 million in cash, SGD6.13 million, US$1.46 million, CHF3 million, €12.16 million, JPY363 million, £50,250, NZD44,600, AED34.75 million and AUD352,850.
The charge also involved five Suisse Fine Gold bars weighing 1kg each, a 100-gramme Suisse Fine Silver bar and a five-gramme 999 Fine Gold coin.
The alleged offence took place at the MACC headquarters in Precinct 7, Putrajaya, on Feb 7, 2025.
Ismail Sabri was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a maximum five-year jail term and a fine of up to RM100,000 upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan appeared for the prosecution, while Ismail Sabri was represented by Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad.
The former prime minister was initially scheduled to be charged on Aug 7, but the proceedings were postponed after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) following health complications while giving his statement to the MACC.
He had undergone a pacemaker procedure earlier this month.
Ismail Sabri arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex at about 8.50am today ahead of the proceedings.
The MACC had previously called him in several times to have his statement recorded in connection with the asset declaration.
The agency is also investigating him over alleged corruption and money laundering. During the investigation, the MACC seized RM170 million in cash in various foreign currencies and confiscated 16kg of gold bars estimated to be worth RM7 million during raids on residences and offices believed to have been used as “safe houses”.
