The High Court permits The Ilham Foundation and five firms to intervene in MACC’s application to freeze GBP132 million in London properties.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has allowed The Ilham Foundation and five other companies to intervene in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) application to freeze assets in London worth GBP132 million.
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the application, finding the Deputy Public Prosecutor would not be prejudiced by the companies’ intervention.
The assets include two commercial buildings at St Mary Axe and One Crown Court, and several luxury residences in London.
They also comprise a bank account at CAF Bank Limited allegedly linked to the six companies.
Apart from The Ilham Foundation, linked to Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, the other firms are Copperfield Investment Holdings Limited and Straits Properties Ltd.
The remaining intervenors are Newton Assets Global Limited, Splendid International Limited and Catalyst Assets Limited.
Judge Azhar stated the provision under Section 53(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act is an in personam action.
He added the prohibition order sought would prevent the property owner from dealing with the assets.
The court also ordered the six intervenors to file affidavits of reply within 30 days.
Lawyers G. Rajasingam, Sathya Kumardas and Sharon Jessy represented Copperfield Investment Holdings Limited and Straits Properties Ltd.
The four other companies were represented by lawyers Nizamuddin Hamid, Abraham Au, Syed Afiq Syed Albakri and Vam Shir Mooi.
Deputy Public Prosecutors Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan, Natrah Fareha Rahmat, Maziah Mohaide and Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal appeared for the respondents.
On June 3, the court allowed an ex parte application by the MACC to freeze the assets in question.
On May 22, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said eight investigation papers were opened based on new information.
He said the information related to assets owned by the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, his family and proxies.
Azam said the latest information showed ownership of assets not declared to the MACC during its 2023 investigation.
