Court to hear govt’s bid to forfeit RM169mil in cash linked to Ismail Sabri

Court to hear govt’s bid to forfeit RM169mil in cash linked to Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR: The sessions court here has fixed Oct 1 to hear the government’s application to forfeit cash seized from a safe house allegedly linked to former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Judge Suzana Hussin set the date during case management today after lawyers representing Ismail and his former political secretary, Anuar Yunus, informed the court that they intended to respond to the forfeiture application.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad told the court that they needed three weeks to file a reply.

Suzana then directed the lawyers to submit their affidavits by Aug 13, with the prosecution to respond by Sept 3.

Ragunath Kesavan also appeared for Ismail and Anuar, while deputy public prosecutors Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin and Alis Izzati Azurin Rusdi represented the government.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is seeking a court order to forfeit cash seized from Anuar for the government, including RM14,772,150, S$6,132,350, US$1,461,400, three million Swiss francs, €12,164,150, 363,000,000 yen, £50,250, NZ$44,600, A$352,850 and 34,750,000 Emirati dirham.

The application was made under Section 41(1) of the MACC Act 2009 after the agency was satisfied that the money kept by Anuar belonged to Ismail and was linked to an offence under Section 36(2) of the Act.