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KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has granted Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid temporary access to her passport for overseas travel in Venice and London.
Sessions Court judge Azrul Darus made the order after Na’imah’s lawyer M. Puravalen informed the court that his client wanted to obtain her passport from Sunday (July 14) until July 25.
The passport was for Na'imah to attend the international art exhibition La Biennale di Venezia in Venice and to meet her lawyer Dave Vasoodaven from Gulbenkian Andonian Solicitors in London between July 16 and July 20.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry did not object to the application.
The court ordered Na’imah to return the document to the court within 48 hours of her return to the country on July 27.
In her supporting affidavit, the wife to former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin said she will attend the art exhibition in Venice in her capacity as Yayasan Ilham board of trustee's chairman.
Yayasan Ilham is a non-profit foundation established to carry out philanthropic and charitable work, including promoting and exchanging art, culture, and education.
“The reason for choosing this period is solely because appointments have been set according to the availability of various individuals I will meet during my trip,” she said.
This is Na'imah's second application to travel overseas for an art exhibition, following her visit to the Basel Art Exhibition in Switzerland last month.
On Jan 23, Na'imah was charged with intentionally giving a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of notice under Section 36(1) (b) of the MACC Act 2009, whereby Na'imah did not declare assets as stated in Appendix A.
The assets listed are two companies; Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, two luxury cars; Mercedes Benz EQC400 and Mercedes Benz 500 SL Auto and eight properties; Menara Ilham in Jalan Binjai, a house in Persiaran Bukit Tunku, four land lots in Bukit Tunku, one lot in Penang and a house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
The 67-year-old was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 and faces imprisonment of up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM100,000, if convicted.
Na'imah was allowed bail of RM250,000 in one surety.
As part of bail conditions, Na'imah surrendered her passport to the court.
