Ex-PM Ismail Sabri charged with failure to declare assets to MACC; pleads not guilty

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob appeared at Sessions Court this morning to face charges pertaining to his asset declaration. The 66-year-old Member of Parliament from Bera arrived at approximately 8.30am, greeted by several supporters waiting outside the court, as reported by Kosmo! Online. The charges are anticipated to be read before Judge Suzana Hussin during today's proceedings.

His legal representative, Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, confirmed on the previous day that Ismail Sabri would be present in court to address the allegations. Originally slated for August 7, the hearing was postponed to today following a request for a deferment made by Amer Hamzah, as his client was undergoing treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).

Earlier, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had summoned Ismail Sabri multiple times to record his statement concerning the asset declaration he provided to the agency. Additionally, MACC seized RM170 million in cash across various foreign currencies and confiscated 16kg of pure gold bars, reportedly valued at RM7 million, as part of a corruption and money-laundering investigation involving the former premier.

These seizures occurred during searches of residences and an office purportedly used as a "safe house" following investigations into four of Ismail Sabri's senior officers, who were arrested in February 2025.