Malaysia’s former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is charged with failing to declare assets as required under the country’s anti-graft law. The 66-year-old pleads not guilty in a Kuala Lumpur sessions court, according to multiple outlets.
The charges relate to an alleged failure to provide a complete declaration, including foreign cash and gold bars. Several reports say the allegation centers on whether he complied with a notice to declare certain assets. Others describe the case as involving local and foreign currencies and gold bars, amounting to millions of ringgit.
Outlets also provide context for the case, linking it to an ongoing anti-corruption push and to prior allegations involving graft and money laundering. Bloomberg and CNA note he is the latest former leader facing criminal proceedings since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took office in 2022. The Hindu adds that Malaysia’s anti-graft agency previously ordered asset declarations after seizing assets allegedly linked to him, and that he is charged under the relevant provisions of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
