Daim’s wife seeks passport release amid asset disclosure case

 

Naimah Khalid is accused of failing to declare her ownership of companies, several plots of land here and in Penang, and two vehicles. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s wife, Naimah Khalid, has petitioned the Kuala Lumpur High Court for the release of her passport, which was impounded pending the resolution of her asset disclosure case.

Naimah’s lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan confirmed the filing of the revision application.

“The application is set for case management before the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday at 9am,” he told FMT.

On Jan 23, sessions court judge Azura Alwi granted Naimah bail of RM250,000 with one surety and ordered her to surrender her passport to the court, as part of the bail condition linked to her criminal charge.

Naimah had claimed trial in the sessions court to a charge of failing to comply with a MACC notice requiring the declaration of assets.

She is accused of failing to declare her ownership of companies, several plots of land here and in Penang, and two vehicles.

If found guilty, she faces a jail term of up to five years and a fine of not more than RM100,000.

According to Malaysiakini, the prosecution had previously applied for Naimah’s passport to be surrendered to the criminal court and to require her to report to the nearest MACC office once a month.

However, defence counsel Yusof Zainal Abiden pleaded for bail at RM250,000.

The former solicitor-general said the additional bail terms were unnecessary because the accused had made it clear that she would remain to fight the charges in court.

“This is not an offence involving violence; therefore, she is not a flight risk. She is not going anywhere. She will stay to fight her case,” Yusof said.

Meanwhile, co-defence counsel M Puravelan had pleaded for the court to not require her to surrender her passport as she may need to fly overseas on short notice to attend to Daim, who has a critical medical condition. - FMT