The court also dismissed the prosecution’s application for Ismail Sabri’s passport to be surrendered, ruling that there was no evidence to suggest that the Bera MP posed a flight risk.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was today granted bail of RM300,000 by the Sessions Court here over a charge of failing to declare assets.
Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin allowed bail with one family member as surety and fixed Sept 29 for case mention.
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The court also dismissed the prosecution’s application for Ismail Sabri’s passport to be surrendered, ruling that there was no evidence to suggest that the Bera MP posed a flight risk.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan said the offence under Section 36(1)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act was non-bailable but left the matter of bail to the court’s discretion.
“If the court allows bail, the prosecution proposes RM500,000 with one surety, together with the additional condition that the passport be surrendered to the court,” she said.
Farah Ezlin said the case involved a former prime minister and concerned a substantial amount of assets.
“He has more than sufficient financial means to provide the (bail) amount,” she said.
She also argued that retaining Ismail Sabri’s passport would help ensure his attendance at future court proceedings and enable the prosecution to trace his whereabouts if necessary.
Ismail Sabri had earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentionally providing a written statement that allegedly failed to comply with a notice issued under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 requiring him to declare his assets.
The assets allegedly not declared included cash in Malaysian ringgit and several foreign currencies, as well as gold and silver bars and a gold coin.
He was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act, which carries a maximum five-year jail term and a fine of up to RM100,000 upon conviction.
The former prime minister’s lawyer, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, said the defence had raised concerns over the propriety and legality of the charge and would study the matter before deciding whether to file an application.
The defence had also objected to the proposed RM500,000 bail and the surrender of Ismail Sabri’s passport.
The prosecution is due to hand over the relevant documents to the defence on Sept 29.
