Daim's wife charged with failing to declare assets

KUALA LUMPUR - Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin's wife, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid was charged in the Sessions Court here today with failing to declare her assets, which include Menara Ilham and several properties in the federal capital and Penang.

Na'imah, 66, pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read out before Judge Azura Alwi.

She was charged with not declaring her assets by deliberately giving a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of a notice, dated Nov 8, 2023, sent to her by an officer from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with the rank of Commissioner on Nov 1, 2023.

The properties are Menara Ilham, two companies, namely Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, two luxury cars, both Mercedes Benz, a house in Persiaran Bukit Tunku, four lots of land in Bukit Tunku and one lot each in Penang and Taman Tun Dr Ismail, here.

Na'imah was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 with committing the offence at the MACC Headquarters, Putrajaya, on Dec 13, 2023.

She faces imprisonment for up to five years and a maximum fine of RM100,000, if convicted.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi, Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zamry and Maziah Mohaide, while Na'imah was represented by lawyers Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, M Puravalen and Alex Tan.

On Jan 10, Nai'mah and her two sons were at the MACC headquarters to give their statements about the commission's investigation against Daim, who is also a businessman.

Following that, MACC Anti-Money Laundering Division Director Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin confirmed that statements had been taken from Daim's wife and sons to assist investigations under the anti-money laundering law.

According to MACC, the investigation into Daim was based on information obtained from the Pandora Papers and that the investigation papers for the case were opened in February last year.

Judge Azura allowed Na'imah bail of RM250,000 with one surety and also ordered her to surrender her passport to the court. She set March 22 for mention.

Earlier, Ahmad Feisal requested the court to set bail of RM500,000 with one surety and for Na"imah to report herself at the MACC headquarters once a month and also to surrender her passport to the court.

However, Mohd Yusof applied for a lower bail, at RM250,000.

The lawyer also objected to the prosecution's request for his client to surrender her passport, saying that she was not a flight risk.

"Na'imah is not involved in any criminal case that makes her a 'flight risk' and she lives (her residence) just behind this court. She is not going anywhere and she is here to fight the case," he said.

Also present in court are Na'imah's family members. - BERNAMA