Shafaqna Pakistan: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was charged on Thursday with failing to declare his assets, becoming the third former premier in recent years to face prosecution over alleged corruption-related offences.
Ismail Sabri, who served as Malaysia’s prime minister for just over 15 months between 2021 and 2022 amid political instability, was accused of concealing assets including local and foreign currencies, gold bars and silver.
He pleaded not guilty at a Kuala Lumpur lower court and was granted bail of 300,000 ringgit ($74,534). If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 ringgit.
Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency said in March last year that Ismail Sabri had submitted an asset declaration after being directed to do so as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering. The probe followed the seizure of assets worth nearly $40 million that authorities said were allegedly linked to him.
Cash amounting to 170 million ringgit in various currencies and 16 kg of gold bars were seized following the raids, the agency said at the time.
A trained lawyer, Ismail Sabri has served in various roles in politics, including lawmaker and cabinet minister under three prime ministers, with portfolios that included rural and regional development, agriculture and domestic trade.
Source: Dunya News
