Court allows Daim's wife to get passport temporarily for overseas trips

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court allowed former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s wife Na’imah Abdul Khalid to have her passport temporarily for overseas trips.

The criminal court greenlit the passport release from July 14 to 25 this morning with no objection from the prosecution team.

The court is holding her passport as part of RM250,000 bail terms linked to her ongoing asset disclosure case.

According to a copy of her affidavit supporting the bid, Na’imah explained that she needed to meet her lawyer in London, United Kingdom and attend the International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy.

She said she needed to meet counsel Dave Vasoodaven of Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors in London on July 15.

She then needed to fly to Venice for the art exhibition from July 16 to 20, as she is attending in her capacity as chairperson of Yayasan Ilham’s Board of Trustees.

She pointed out that the non-profit foundation was established to carry out philanthropic and charity works, including promoting and exchanging arts, culture, and education.

"I am advised by my solicitors and verily believe that I have been present at all court dates set by this honourable court and have not shown any indication of absconding or making myself absent from court for my case.

"In view of this, I humbly state that my application herein is made with good faith.

"I also verily believe and aver that I will return to Malaysia on or before July 25, and will surrender my passport to court forthwith," Na'imah said.

Previously, the court also allowed the temporary release of her passport for trips to Basel and Singapore.

Criminal charge

In January, Na’imah pleaded not guilty to a criminal charge of alleged failure to abide by an MACC notice to disclose her assets.

The 66-year-old's charge was framed under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009.

She was accused of committing the offence by giving a sworn written statement that did not comply with an MACC notice under Section 36(1) of the MACC Act.

Accused of committing the offence between Dec 13 and 14 last year, she may be jailed for up to five years and fined up to RM100,000.

The assets she allegedly did not disclose involved multiple plots of land, properties, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

According to the annexure attached to the charge and read out in court, among the eight properties allegedly involved are Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur, a house in Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur, as well as six plots of land - five in Kuala Lumpur and one in Penang.

Among other alleged items involved in the non-disclosure are concerning two companies, namely Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd.

Daim, 86, faces a similar criminal charge before the lower court.

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