Kuala lumpur: The High Court here today allowed an application by The Ilham Foundation and five other companies to be intervenors in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) application to freeze several commercial and residential buildings, worth GBP132 million, in London, United Kingdom (UK).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the assets in question include two commercial buildings at St Mary Axe and One Crown Court, as well as three luxury residences located at Bryanston Square, Bryanston Mews, and Lancaster Gate. Additional properties include two residential units in Gloucester Place and a bank account at CAF Bank Limited (UK), all allegedly linked to the six companies.
Apart from The Ilham Foundation, associated with Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, the wife of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, the other five companies involved are Copperfield Investment Holdings Limited, Straits Properties Ltd, Newton Assets Global Limited, Splendid International Limited, and Catalyst Assets Limited.
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid permitted the application, determining that the Deputy Public Prosecutor would not suffer prejudice due to the intervention by the six companies. He noted, "The provision under Section 53(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 is an in personam action, as the prohibition order sought would prevent the property owner from dealing with the property in question," emphasizing the court's jurisdiction to grant the application.
The judge further instructed the six interveners to file affidavits of reply within 30 days.
During the proceedings, Copperfield Investment Holdings Limited and Straits Properties Ltd were represented by lawyers G. Rajasingam, Sathya Kumardas, and Sharon Jessy. The remaining companies were represented by lawyers Nizamuddin Hamid, Abraham Au, Syed Afiq Syed Albakri, and Vam Shir Mooi. Meanwhile, Deputy Public Prosecutors Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, Natrah Fareha Rahmat, Maziah Mohaide, and Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal represented the respondents.
On June 3, the court approved an ex parte application by the MACC to freeze the assets in question. Earlier, on May 22, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki disclosed that eight investigation papers had been initiated based on new information from external agencies concerning assets owned by Daim, his family, and proxies. Azam highlighted that recent information revealed these assets were not declared to the MACC during the investigation in 2023.