KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was charged today with failing to declare his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The 66-year-old pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court.

He is accused of failing to declare local and nine foreign currencies, as well as five gold bars (Suisse Fine Gold).

Among the currencies allegedly not declared were RM14.7 million, S$6 million, US$1.46 million, three million Swiss francs, €12.2 million, ¥363 million, £50,250, NZ$44,600, 34.8 million dirhams and A$352,850.

He claimed trial after the charge, made under Section 36(2) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act, was read out to him.

Section 36(2) covers the offence of wilfully neglecting or failing to comply with the terms of a notice issued by the MACC to give a written statement on oath or affirmation on their assets.

If convicted, he can be punished with a maximum five-year jail term and a maximum fine of RM100,000.

Ismail Sabri was accused of having on February 7, 2025 at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, wilfully given a written statement on oath that did not comply with the terms of a MACC notice dated January 7 the same year that was served on him on January 10.

Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan prosecuted, while Ismail was represented by lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad.

The prosecution initially urged the court to set bail at RM500,000 and order for Ismail to surrender his passport.

However, Amer Hamzah urged the court to impose the minimum bail, arguing that the former prime minister was not a flight risk and that the proposed amount was made in bad faith.

Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin later fixed bail at RM300,000 and allowed Ismail to retain his passport after finding there was no proof to suggest the accused posed a flight risk.

Case is fixed for mention on September 29.

Former Umno vice president Ismail Sabri, 66, is the Bera MP and was Malaysia’s ninth prime minister from August 2021 to October 2022.

The MACC had in February 2025 arrested four of Ismail Sabri’s officers, and also seized about RM170 million in cash and other currencies, 16kg of gold bars valued at RM7 million, jewellery, and luxury watches from his aide’s house.

Ismail Sabri had appeared at the MACC headquarters multiple times between March to May 2025 to give his statement.

On October 1, 2025, the Sessions Court had ordered over RM169 million in cash to be forfeited to the Malaysian government, as both Ismail Sabri and his aide did not challenge the forfeiture and no other party challenged the forfeiture.