MACC to Seek Interpol Red Notice Against Tun Daim’s Sons for Evading Probe

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will take its pursuit of the sons of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin to the international stage, announcing its intention to seek an Interpol Red Notice against them following their repeated failure to appear for questioning .

The graft-busters confirmed that Muhammed Amir Zainuddin Daim and Muhammed Amin Zainuddin Daim, along with an associate named Josephine Premla Sivaretnam, are the targets of the international warrant request . This drastic step follows their defiance of three separate attendance orders issued by the commission on Feb 13, March 11, and April 6 .

MACC has accused the trio of willfully ignoring lawful instructions, stating that their lawyers had previously indicated a commitment to attend on April 6. However, the deadline passed without their appearance, and authorities were not provided with any reasonable excuse for their absence .

“Previously, their lawyers had stated their commitment and agreement to be present on April 6. However, they again failed to do so without any reasonable excuse,” MACC said in a statement .

The commission has also initiated collaboration with the Immigration Department to restrict the travel movements and monitor the passport status of the individuals involved, effectively grounding them should they attempt to flee local jurisdiction before the Red Notice is activated .

A Split in the Family’s Cooperation

While two of the siblings remain evasive, other members of the family have taken a different stance. MACC confirmed that another child of the late Finance Minister, Asnida Abdul Daim, has come forward to cooperate and gave her statement to investigators .

However, Asnida is not out of legal jeopardy. Reports indicate she is scheduled to be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 for failing to comply with a notice to declare assets . Meanwhile, a fourth sibling, Md Wira Dani Daim, has reportedly informed the commission of his absence in advance, a gesture noted by investigators .

Ops Godfather and the “Flight” Risk

The intense pressure on Daim’s children is part of a larger investigation known as Ops Godfather. This probe, which has been ongoing for years, focuses on tracing billions of ringgit in assets allegedly linked to the former minister, his family, and associates .

The investigation was partially sparked by the 2021 Pandora Papers revelations, which exposed offshore companies tied to the family. With assets identified in several countries including the UK, the US, and Singapore the international scope of the probe makes the Red Notice a critical tool for MACC to compel attendance .

Should the Red Notice be approved by Interpol, the two sons will be placed on a global wanted list, requiring law enforcement agencies in 196 member countries to locate and provisionally arrest them pending extradition proceedings. This move signals that MACC believes the individuals are actively evading justice, potentially by staying outside Malaysian borders.

The three individuals also face prosecution under Section 48(c) of the MACC Act 2009, which carries a penalty of a fine or imprisonment for failing to comply with an attendance order .

“MACC stresses that any failure to comply with the lawful instructions of the agency will not be tolerated, and that enforcement action will be carried out without exception,” the commission warned .