Former PM Ismail Sabri Pleads Not Guilty to Failing to Declare Millions in Assets and Gold Bars

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was charged in the Sessions Court today with failing to declare assets, including RM14.7 million in cash, millions in foreign currencies, and gold bars.

Ismail Sabri, 66, who serves as the Bera Member of Parliament, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Suzana Hussin.

According to the charge sheet, Ismail Sabri is accused of intentionally submitting a written statement that failed to comply with a notice issued under Section 36(1)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 (Act 694), dated Jan 7, 2025. The notice, served on him by an MACC officer on Jan 10, 2025, required him to declare specified assets.

The alleged offence was committed at the MACC Headquarters in Precinct 7, Putrajaya, on Feb 7, 2025.

The undeclared assets specified in the charge include:

• Local Currency: RM14,772,150
• Foreign Currencies: SGD 6,132,350; USD 1,461,400; CHF 3,000,000; EUR 12,164,150; JPY 363,000,000; GBP 50,250; NZD 44,600; AED 34,750,000; and AUD 352,850
• Precious Metals: Five Suisse Fine Gold bars

The charge, framed under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RM100,000 upon conviction.

The prosecution team was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, while Ismail Sabri was represented by counsel Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad.

The former prime minister was initially scheduled to face charges on Aug 7, but proceedings were adjourned after he was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) due to health issues involving possible arrhythmia and a scheduled pacemaker procedure. Judge Suzana subsequently postponed the matter to today.

–NMT