'MACC received nod to charge Daim last week, delayed due to health'

 

The MACC received the green light from the Attorney-General's Chambers to charge former finance minister Daim Zainuddin in court under the MACC Act last week, according to Azam Baki.

However, the MACC chief commissioner said they were unable to proceed with the prosecution as Daim had been in a hospital for unspecified health reasons.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Azam expressed his disappointment over Daim’s doctor's alleged failure to be upfront with the MACC investigating officer in charge of the case on why the politician was deemed unfit to be present at court.

Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin

"We received the approval to press charges against Daim over a week ago.

"When the investigating officer notified his lawyer that Daim needed to be present in court, the counsel informed MACC that Daim had been admitted to a private hospital.

"We have checked it, and Daim was indeed hospitalised before we received the green light to press charges. However, until today, we could not ascertain why was he hospitalised as the doctor treating him did not reveal what was going on with Daim and instead went back and forth about his situation," he said.

According to Azam, Daim is expected to face at least one charge for failure to declare several properties that Daim and his wife have interests in.

Adding further, the anti-graft agency’s top officer said the MACC also has the option to bring the judge to the private hospital where Daim is being admitted for his charge to be read out.

However, Azam said this would not be their first option unless the situation warrants it.

Na’imah charged

Yesterday, Daim’s wife Na'imah Abdul Khalid claimed trial for failing to comply with an MACC notice which required her to disclose her assets.

Na'imah Abdul Khalid

The assets she allegedly did not disclose involved multiple lands, properties, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

She was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

The 66-year-old was alleged to have committed the offence by giving a sworn written statement that did not comply with the MACC notice under Section 36(1) of the MACC Act.

Accused of committing the offence between Dec 13 and 14 last year, she may be jailed for up to five years and fined up to RM100,000. - Mkini