KUALA LUMPUR – The sessions court here has allowed former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin bail of RM280,000 in one surety.
Judge Azura Alwi also did not impose additional bail conditions after hearing an account of the 86-year-old’s health from his lawyer.
In court today, after Daim claimed trial to a charge of failing to declare his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), deputy public prosecutor, Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin suggested bail of between RM250,000 to RM500,000 with one surety.
He also asked the court to subject Daim to an additional condition, to report to the MACC office in Putrajaya once a month.
Wan Shaharudin also asked the court to advise the accused not to comment on his case until the trial is completed.
However, Daim’s lawyer M. Puravalen asked the court to consider the former Umno treasurer’s poor health condition.
“Yang Arif can see the condition of the accused who has come to court in a wheelchair.
“He is a kidney patient and even had a stroke. One of his eyes was removed because it was infected,” Puravalen said.
The lawyer added that Daim had hearing problems as well.
Given these health issues, Daim should not be required to surrender his passport, nor be required to report to the MACC once a month, Puravalen said.
Judge Azura then set bail at RM280,000 in one surety, without any additional conditions.
“I understand that all parties are mature enough and have enough knowledge not to give any comments. The case has been charged in court and is ongoing, so avoid sub judice,” she said.
Daim earlier claimed trial to a charge of failing to declare 70 assets and one bank account to the anti-graft authorities.
The undeclared assets include 38 companies, seven luxury vehicles such as a Rolls Royce Royce 2 Axle Rigid Body, three Mercedes-Benz, a Jaguar XJS HE, an Austin Morris Austin, and a Ford Prefect, as well as 25 properties that include condominium units, houses and hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Kedah.
Since February last year, Daim, who had two spells as finance minister – from 1984 to 1991 and from 1999 to 2001 – has been investigated by the MACC over information linked to his naming in the Pandora Papers published in 2021.
The court has fixed case mention on March 22 for Daim and his wife Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid’s cases. – January 29, 2024