KUALA LUMPUR - A lawyer on behalf of Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin told the Sessions Court here on Monday that the former Finance Minister was not only blind in one eye, but also had a stroke several years ago.
Lawyer M Puravalen said Daim, 86, suffered from a chronic health problem when his left eye became infected with germs, causing it to have to be removed.
During the mitigation proceedings to reduce the amount of bail in front of Judge Azura Alwi, the lawyer said that the former Umno leader also had speech problems due to a 'minor' stroke.
"Yang Arif can see for yourself his condition, he needs to be carried and even appeared in court in a wheelchair.
"Daim is a kidney patient and is now confined to his home," the lawyer said after the prosecution suggested that Daim report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Putrajaya once a month.
Concerning the level of health, Puravalen also objected to the additional condition of surrendering Daim’s passport to the court until the case was resolved.
He said that it was impossible for his client to use a passport to travel long distances.
On Monday, Daim, was charged with deliberately giving a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of the notice under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009 dated Nov 8, 2023.
The notice was sent to the accused by an MACC Commissioner on Nov 14 of the same year, namely by not declaring the assets at the MACC Putrajaya Headquarters on Dec 13, 2023.
The property involved assets including Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASB) accounts, seven vehicles such as Jaguar and Rolls Royce, 38 companies and 25 properties and land in the capital, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak including Pahang.
The prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutors Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi, Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry and Maziah Mohaide.
Before the proceedings began, Daim’s wife Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid was seen carefully pushing the wheelchair and even accompanied her husband near the dock.
Despite sitting in a wheelchair, Daim, who was hunched over, looked weak and his voice was hard to hear.
The proceedings were attended by Daim’s family members and Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.