Former Malaysian premier Ismail Sabri Yaakob charged over undeclared assets
Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been formally accused of failing to disclose his wealth, becoming Malaysia's third ex-leader to face criminal prosecution.
Malaysia's former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, aged 66, was charged on Thursday with not fully declaring his assets, marking the third instance of a former head of government facing criminal allegations. The charge, filed under the nation's anti-graft law, stems from a 2025 notice by the anti-corruption agency and cites large sums of cash, foreign currencies, and precious metals. If convicted, Ismail could receive up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 ringgit.
He entered a not-guilty plea, was released on bail, and will appear before the court again on September 29 for further prosecutorial details. His legal troubles follow those of former premiers Najib Razak, currently serving a reduced six-year term, and Muhyiddin Yassin, who remains on trial for corruption and money-laundering charges.
Why it matters
The prosecution highlights ongoing anti-corruption efforts and political accountability in Malaysia.
In this story
