Malaysia’s late former finance minister Daim was acquitted; Prosecutors will file a lawsuit against his wife

SINGAPORE: A Malaysian court acquitted former finance minister Daim Zainuddin of failing to declare his assets following his death on November 13, but prosecutors will continue the case against his wife Na’imah Abdul Khalid.

“Yes, (the case) will proceed as usual,” Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told CNA on Wednesday, November 20, when asked about the charge against 67-year-old Na’imah for failing to declare her assets.

According to Mr Wan Shaharuddin, his trial will be held on January 15 next year.

He pleaded not guilty to knowingly making a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) notice. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to RM100,000 (US$22,360).

Late Daim was also charged in January failure to declare assets said to include 38 companies and 25 properties Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah, as well as numerous luxury vehicles including a Rolls Royce, three Mercedes Benz and a Jaguar.

Undeclared assets include the multi-million dollar Inspiration Tower seized by MACC. He always denied his guilt.

On Wednesday, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court granted full acquittal to Daim after the prosecution applied to withdraw all charges related to Daim’s death.

Mr Wan Shaharuddin told the court that it was impractical to file a lawsuit against a deceased person.

“Who will pay the fine and who will suffer the penalty (if found guilty)?” he added, Free Malaysia Today reported.

The day before, his wife Na’imah had called on the attorney general and the MACC not to drop the charge against Daim, stating that the trial should continue to shed light on the allegations against Daim.

This situation was reported by Daim’s lawyer, Dr. It was repeated in court by Gurdial Singh Nijar.

According to The Star, Dr. “As he lay ill in bed, he expressed the need to clear his name of what he perceived to be a false accusation made against him, which he could not explain,” Singh said.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi acquitted him.

Before his death, Daim described the investigation against him as follows: “political witch hunt” Under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Agency and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Daim, who served as finance minister from 1984 to 1991 and 1999 to 2001 under former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, died at the age of 86 in Petaling Jaya’s Assunta Hospital on November 13.