Former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been charged with allegedly failing to fully declare his assets to the country’s anti-corruption authorities. He pleaded not guilty in a Kuala Lumpur court on August 27, 2026.
The 66-year-old is accused of concealing assets including cash in Malaysian and foreign currencies, as well as 16 kilograms of gold bars. Authorities had previously seized assets worth nearly $40 million in connection with the investigation.
Ismail Sabri was released on 300,000 Malaysian ringgit ($74,534) bail. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 ringgit. His lawyer has questioned the legality and basis of the charge.
The case makes Ismail Sabri the third former Malaysian prime minister in recent years to face criminal proceedings over alleged corruption-related offences, following former leaders Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin.