Former Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri Becomes Suspect Of Corruption, IDR 626 Billion And 16 Kilograms Of Gold Batangan Confiscated

Chairman of SPRM Tan Sri Azam Baki (third from the left)/ANTARA/HO-SPRM)

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (SPRM) has named former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as a suspect in corruption cases and the illegal use of promotional funds and publicity during his tenure.

Chairman of SPRM Tan Sri Azam Baki in Putrajaya on Monday (3/3) said the 9th Malaysian PM had been subject to Article 36 (1) of the 2009 SPRM Law regarding assets reports.

During the condominium search, money was found allegedly related to Sabri. If the money really belonged to him, then he must provide an explanation, said Azam.

The search was also carried out in a house and three other locations, where the SPRM found and confiscated around 170 million ringgit in cash (around Rp626 billion) in various foreign currencies and 16 kilograms of gold bullion whose value was estimated at almost 7 million ringgit.

The search was carried out after the SPRM detained four senior officials in the Sabri government.

The SPRM has opened an investigation into alleged corruption and the illegal use of promotional funds and publicity for the Malaysian Family program in early 2024.

Azam said the promotion and publicity project was worth up to 700 million ringgit (equivalent to Rp2.6 trillion).

Currently, at least 31 people have been questioned as witnesses in the case.

In November 2024, the SPRM has issued a notification for Sabri and another individual to report their assets.

As reported by ANTARA, Monday, March 3, according to Azam, Sabri submitted his wealth report on February 10 and he was questioned by SPRM on February 19.

SPRMakan asked for more information from Sabri on Wednesday (5/3) and summoned about 10 other witnesses for the next two weeks.

The SPRM froze a bank account containing 2 million ringgits allegedly related to the case.

However, said Azam, the SPRM did not freeze Sabri's bank account at this time because it was still conducting an inspection.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob served as PM in 2021-2022, replacing Muhyiddin Yassin who resigned.