Government files to forfeit funds from Ilham Tower and an individual’s accounts, citing links to offences under the MACC Act, with a hearing set for 2026.
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is seeking to forfeit funds held in accounts belonging to Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and an individual connected to the investigation into the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
Separate forfeiture notices were filed at the Sessions Court here on Nov 28 and Dec 3, naming the company and a woman as respondents.
The prosecution is applying for a court order to forfeit the funds, which were seized from the respondents’ accounts on May 31, 2024, to the Malaysian government.
The applications are made under Section 41(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, with the prosecution asserting the property is liable for forfeiture even without a criminal case.
The applicant states the property was obtained from or is connected to an offence under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act.
During proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat said the prosecution would apply for a gazette order to notify any person with an interest in the property to appear before the court.
Respondents’ counsel Nizamuddin Hamid sought an adjournment due to related ongoing proceedings in the High Court.
He said those proceedings concern a referral of constitutional questions regarding Section 36 of the MACC Act to the Federal Court.
Nizamuddin also cited an ongoing judicial review concerning the seizure of the related accounts under Section 37 of the MACC Act.
The lawyer further applied for an interim protective order to prevent the disclosure of the respondents’ banking details and the sums involved.
Mahadi argued the case was high-profile and of public interest, noting the respondents’ identities were already public.
He consented, however, to withholding the specific banking details and sums.
Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi granted the interim protective order.
She fixed Feb 12, 2026, for the next hearing, where any third party with an interest will be notified to show cause why the property should not be forfeited.
