Dubai Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Daim Zainuddin's Sons

A magistrate court in Dubai has officially issued arrest warrants for three individuals, including the sons of the late former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin, after they failed to attend several summons from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The individuals named are Muhammed Amir Zainuddin (31), Muhammed Amin Zainuddin (28), and businesswoman Josephine Premla. Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan approved the prosecution's request, stating that the accused were aware of the notices but consistently avoided making an appearance.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat noted that the MACC had sent multiple notices under Section 30 of the MACC Act, requesting the individuals to appear for questioning. The first notice, issued on February 13, 2026, required their presence the following day. Although the court acknowledged that the notice period was brief, the individuals were informed through their legal counsel shortly after.

The MACC later extended the deadline to March 11, 2026, giving nearly three weeks for compliance. However, the defense communicated on March 9 that the individuals would not be able to attend and requested to reschedule for March 30.

The MACC agreed to this request but issued a final extension, demanding their appearance by April 6, 2026. Despite this, the trio once again failed to show up. Their lawyer later requested another postponement until July 2026, citing ongoing issues.

The court determined that the repeated delays indicated a deliberate attempt to avoid cooperation with the investigation, leading to the issuance of arrest warrants. Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan highlighted that the prosecution's claims were justified, emphasizing that the individuals had ample notice and reasonable opportunity to comply.

In a related note, MACC has hinted at potentially pursuing stricter measures, including a possible international Red Notice, due to the ongoing non-compliance.

However, the court did grant a temporary stay on the execution of the arrest warrants following a motion from defense attorney Nizamuddin Hamid. This stay is effective until the defense submits an application to the High Court to nullify the warrants and a ruling is reached.

This case has attracted considerable attention in Malaysia, given the significant political and financial legacy of Daim Zainuddin and is viewed as part of broader efforts for accountability in high-profile corruption cases.