Court Issues Arrest Warrants Against Tun Daim's Sons For Failing To Comply With MACC Notices

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- The Magistrate’s Court today issued arrest warrants against three individuals, including two sons of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, for failing to comply with notices from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to face charges today.

Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan made the ruling after allowing an application by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat for arrest warrants to be issued against Muhammed Amir Zainuddin, 31, Muhammed Amin Zainuddin, 28, and businesswoman Josephine Premla.

“I am satisfied that the named individuals had knowledge of the notices issued by the MACC, but still failed to present themselves. The prosecution’s application has merit, and therefore, the arrest warrants are issued,” she said.

Yesterday, MACC, in a statement, said it would take firm action, including initiating a Red Notice against Daim’s two sons for failing to appear to give statements to the commission despite three notices being issued.

Josephine also failed to appear without a reasonable excuse despite being directed to do so by MACC.

However, the court allowed an application by lawyer Nizamuddin Hamid, who represented the three individuals, to temporarily stay the execution of the arrest warrants until the defence filed an application to set aside the warrants at the High Court and the decision on the stay.

Illi Marisqa said that in the case, notices under Section 30 of the MACC Act had been given by MACC to the lawyer and were sufficient to provide knowledge to his clients regarding MACC’s intention to conduct investigations.

“I agree that the first notice issued on Feb 13, 2026, for the named individuals to appear on Feb 14, 2026, was too short, but I believe the named individuals had knowledge of the matter based on a letter written on their behalf by their lawyer dated Feb 16, 2026.

“MACC had allowed an application for an extension of time and gave a date of March 11, 2026, which was approximately three weeks after the first date the named individuals were supposed to appear. However, through a letter from the lawyer dated March 9, 2026, it was stated that they could not attend and were only prepared to appear on March 30, 2026.

“MACC then gave a final date of April 6, 2026, as an extension, which I believe was about three weeks for the named individuals to attend. However, through a letter dated April 4, 2026, the named individuals stated they could not attend due to the reasons given and requested a date in July 2026 for their attendance. Therefore, MACC filed this application for arrest warrants in court,” said Illi Marisqa.

Illi Marisqa said that after examining the submissions of both the prosecution and the defence, as well as referring to Section 47 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the court found there were grounds to believe that the named individuals had absconded.

“For the named individuals Muhammed Amir and Muhammed Amin, there are no supporting documents to prove their absence from the MACC office and from the first letter until the latest letter from the lawyer, there were no documents, including those related to universities and others, to confirm their absence, while for the third named individual (Josephine), no letter regarding travel abroad was attached.

“I am satisfied that the named individuals had knowledge of the investigation by MACC through the involvement of the lawyer in the correspondence between them, however, after time was given, the named individuals still failed to provide cooperation,” she said.

Earlier, Mahadi, when submitting arguments on the application for the arrest warrants, said the two siblings failed to appear at the MACC office three times since being instructed by MACC on Feb 14, while Josephine failed to appear twice.

Lawyer Nizamuddin, who objected to the application, said Muhammed Amir and Muhammed Amin are pursuing their studies in law and accounting in the United Kingdom and that MACC had given short notice to his clients, preventing them from responding in time.

“There was no notification or document obtained by us stating that the clients would be charged today or prosecuted. They were only supposed to attend to give statements. Two of my clients are students and another is an elderly person, why would they abscond?” he said.

Earlier today, Daim’s daughter, Asnida Abdul Daim, 65, was charged at the Sessions Court with failing to declare shareholdings in five companies in 2023.

Asnida, however, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Judge Rosli Ahmad.

-- BERNAMA