Malaysia’s anti-graft agency to seek forfeiture of $53.7m linked to ex-PM Ismail Sabri probe

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) plans to seek the forfeiture of RM177 million (S$53.7 million) in assets and cash that it seized in its

probe into former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob

, the New Straits Times reported.

The deputy public prosecutor’s office will file for the forfeiture within two weeks, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki was cited as saying on June 25.

The probe focuses on allegations of graft and money laundering related to funds used for publicity and promotion while Datuk Seri Ismail was in office. Tan Sri Azam said the investigation has been completed. 

Mr Ismail, 65, Malaysia’s shortest-serving prime minister, held the post from August 2021 until dissolving Parliament in October 2022. He is a member of Umno, part of the ruling coalition.

Mr Ismail is among a group of former prime ministers to be ensnared in the MACC’s dragnet as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim seeks to clamp down on corruption.

Mr Ismail’s direct predecessor,

Muhyiddin Yassin, is facing graft charges in court,

while Najib Razak, another former premier, is in prison for

crimes related to state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad

.

Malaysia’s former two-time prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is under a separate investigation. BLOOMBERG