Daim Zainuddin acquitted of graft charges by Malaysian court a week after his death
The corruption charges, related to the late politician and businessman’s alleged failure to declare his assets, were dropped on Wednesday
Daim, 86, died on November 13 while awaiting trial on charges of failing to declare his assets, part of a high profile corruption crackdown that critics say has targeted rivals of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The Kuala Lumpur sessions court granted a full acquittal to Daim after the prosecution applied to withdraw all charges in view of the death of the accused.
Daim’s lawyers had argued that it was not enough for the prosecution to withdraw the charges without a ruling by the court to clear their client’s name as well.
“This is because we cannot have a charge hanging over the head of someone not in a position to defend himself any more,” Daim’s lead counsel, Gurdial Singh Nijar, told This Week In Asia.
“The court agreed. The family is happy with the decision, because it exonerates Tun Daim completely,” Gurdial said, referring to Daim by his honorific title.
