Former Malaysian Prime Minister "Ismail Sabri Yaakob" has been charged under anti-corruption law for failing to declare large assets, including cash in over 10 currencies totaling nearly 40 million US dollars (more than 1.3 billion baht), gold bars, and silver bars. If found guilty, he faces up to 5 years imprisonment. He denies the charges and intends to contest the case in court.
Ismail Sabri Yaakob, 66, former Malaysian Prime Minister, appeared at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to hear charges under Section 36(2) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act for intentionally failing to submit an asset declaration as ordered by officials. He denied all charges and plans to fight the case in court.
Following a money laundering and corruption investigation, the MACC issued a warning letter dated 7 January 2025, instructing Ismail Sabri to submit an asset declaration within a specified timeframe. However, on 7 February 2025, he submitted incomplete asset documentation.
The undeclared assets are valued at nearly 40 million US dollars and include cash in multiple currencies: 14.77 million Malaysian ringgit, 6.13 million Singapore dollars, 1.46 million US dollars, 3 million Swiss francs, 12.16 million euros, 363 million Japanese yen, 50,250 British pounds, 44,600 New Zealand dollars, 34.75 million UAE dirhams, and 352,850 Australian dollars.
Additionally, the undeclared assets include five Suisse Fine gold bars (totaling 5 kilograms), one Suisse Fine silver bar (100 grams), and 999 purity gold coins weighing 5 grams.
Previously, MACC officials raided a suspected "safe house," seizing cash worth 170 million ringgit, 16 kilograms of gold bars valued at about 7 million ringgit, gemstones, and numerous luxury watches. They also arrested four former close aides of Ismail Sabri. This case is connected to the investigation of the government's publicity budget for the 'Keluarga Malaysia' campaign, worth over 700 million ringgit during his tenure.
The court granted bail set at 300,000 ringgit (approximately 2.44 million baht) and scheduled the next evidence examination for 29 September. If convicted, Ismail Sabri could face up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine up to 100,000 ringgit (about 814,000 baht).
The original trial was scheduled for 7 August but was postponed to 27 August after Ismail Sabri suffered an irregular heartbeat during testimony, requiring implantation of a pacemaker at Malaysia's National Heart Institute.
Ismail Sabri served as Malaysia's Prime Minister from August 2021 to November 2022, a 15-month tenure making him the shortest-serving PM in Malaysian history. He is the third former PM to face criminal prosecution, following Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin.