Malaysia’s Ismail Sabri denies failing to declare millions in cash, gold bars

Malaysia’s former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob pleaded not guilty in a Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Thursday to failing to declare millions of ringgit in local and foreign currencies and gold bars.The 66-year-old is the second ex-leader to face criminal charges since Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took office in 2022, pledging to root out entrenched corruption.Ismail Sabri’s charge under Section 36(2) of the corruption-commission" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="99709" data-entity-type="organization">Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) Act comes more than a year after he was named as a suspect in a sprawling corruption and money-laundering investigation involving government publicity spending during his administration.According to the charge, Ismail Sabri allegedly gave a written statement in February 2025 that failed to comply with an MACC notice requiring him to declare specified assets.Those assets, valued at close to US$40 million, were 14.77 million ringgit, S$6.13 million, US$1.46 million, 3 million Swiss francs, €12.16 million, 363 million yen, £50,250, NZ$44,600, 34.75 million UAE dirhams and A$352,850, as well as five Suisse fine gold bars.Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (centre) arrives at the Kuala Lumpur court complex on Thursday. Photo: ReutersIf convicted, the MP for the central constituency of Bera faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of 100,000 ringgit (US$25,000).