Ismail Sabri Yaakob has declared his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as part of a probe into corruption and money laundering involving the former prime minister.
In a statement, MACC said its investigation is focussed on the spending and funding for promotional and publicity purposes during Ismail’s tenure as the head of the government from August 2021 to November 2022.
“Ismail was instructed to declare his assets under Section 36(1) of the MACC Act 2009 on Dec 11, 2024. The asset declaration was officially submitted on Feb 10 this year,” the anti-graft agency said.
“Ismail was summoned by MACC on Feb 19 to provide a statement at its headquarters. MACC has not ruled out the possibility that he may be called again to assist with further investigations.”
According to MACC, four senior officers who served under Ismail were arrested after the agency received new information and intelligence reports.
Raids at their residences and three other premises believed to be “safehouses” uncovered around RM170 million in cash in various international currencies, along with 16kg of pure gold bars estimated to be worth nearly RM7 million.
MACC also said it has identified nearly 10 witnesses who will be called “in the near future” to assist with the investigation.
“We would like to emphasise that the investigation is being conducted independently, professionally, and in accordance with the prevailing laws,” it said.
“MACC is committed to ensuring that any form of corruption and money laundering are dealt with firmly for the benefit of the nation.”
On Feb 22, Ismail collapsed at home and was hospitalised for blood pressure-related problems.
Last Thursday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the agency would summon eight individuals as part of its investigation following the arrest of four of Ismail’s former senior officers.
They were remanded on Feb 21 over their suspected involvement in corruption and have since been released.
Azam previously said the case was being investigated under Section 16(a) of the MACC Act, which deals with soliciting and accepting bribes, as well as the anti-money laundering law.
Last year, MACC began a probe into RM700 million allegedly used for promotional and publicity purposes to showcase the government’s achievements during the two previous administrations, between March 2020 and November 2022.
MACC was seeking to discover how the money was spent, and had called up the companies which received the funds from the government.
Source : FMT
MACC quizzed Ismail Sabri for 5 hours
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for five hours last Tuesday.
The Bera member of parliament was brought in for questioning at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist an investigation into the hundreds of millions of ringgit spent by his administration on promotional and publicity expenditures.
This took place last week, before he was reported to have collapsed at home last Saturday, which saw him hospitalised for blood pressure-related matters.
However, sources said the MACC was not done with Ismail Sabri and was expected to call him in again.
It is understood that information gathered during the five-hour grilling resulted in investigators identifying four of his former aides as persons of interest who needed to be questioned.
This led to the much-publicised arrest and remand of the four last Friday to facilitate a probe into alleged corruption and abuse of power.
It was also reported that an MACC raid at a residence belonging to one of Ismail Sabri’s ex-staff members uncovered more than RM100 million in cash and valuables, including jewellery, stashed in bags and safes in several rooms.
Investigators also seized documents and electronic devices from the house.
Ismail Sabri was prime minister from 2021 to 2022, making him Malaysia’s shortest-serving premier.
On Thursday, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission would begin summoning eight other individuals to assist the probe.
The eight, he said, would be called up in stages over the next two weeks to have their statements recorded.
The investigation is being carried out under Section 16A of the MACC Act 2009 and The Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The four ex-aides arrested, two of whom were believed to be “Datuk”, were released on bail after their remand period ended.
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