Another former Malaysia prime minister faces criminal charges after leaving office

Malaysian Former PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob Faces Criminal Charges Over Asset Declaration Failure

Another former Malaysia prime minister faces criminal charges after leaving office

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was charged Thursday with failing to declare his assets, making him the nation’s third leader to face criminal charges after leaving office.

Ismail, 66, pleaded not guilty to a charge under the anti-graft law that alleged he failed to provide a complete declaration of assets following a notice from the anti-corruption agency in January 2025. The charge sheet lists large amounts of cash in Malaysian and foreign currencies, as well as gold and silver.

If convicted, Ismail faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 100,000 ringgit ($24,810).

He was the shortest-serving leader, having led for just 15 months from August 2021 to November 2022.

After departing office, Ismail has faced repeated inquiries from anti-graft agents concerning alleged misuse of millions spent on governmental publicity during his tenure. Authorities have also seized gold bars and approximately $40 million in cash linked to properties associated with him.

His case follows similar prosecutions of two predecessors. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak now serves a reduced six‑year prison term after being convicted in the multibillion‑dollar 1MDB fund scandal. He received a further 15‑year sentence in his previous graft trial, with additional proceedings pending. Additionally, Muhyiddin Yassin—the eighth prime minister—remains on trial over corruption and money‑laundering accusations.

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