e-Jamin Operator Invested Bail Funds

Dapat Vista invested RM130.8 million in bail deposits under its own name without a formal government contract for five years, sparking concerns over financial non-compliance and data ownership. The Public Accounts Committee found that the company earned between RM4 million and RM5 million in interest annually from the investments.

Photo: Photo as published by Malaysiakini

The Public Accounts Committee chairman, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said Dapat Vista operated the e-Jamin system at 192 courts nationwide without a letter of appointment, letter of acceptance, or formal contract with the Federal Government since January 10, 2020.

The committee found that as of December 31, 2024, Dapat Vista held RM193.71 million in bail deposits in its own commercial account instead of a consolidated trust account, breaching Article 97(1) of the Federal Constitution and Section 7 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957.

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer called for authorities to investigate those behind Dapat Vista, questioning how the company was entrusted with handling hundreds of millions of ringgit in bail deposits without a formal contract.

Rayer also expressed concerns over what would happen if a large sum of money was deposited with the company as bail and it was later found that the company could not return the money once the case was concluded.

The Public Accounts Committee recommended that the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court build its own bail module to end reliance on a vendor and keep full government ownership of the data.

The committee also identified an unreconciled gap of RM557,258 between e-Jamin's records and the company's bank statements, which it attributed to active daily bail transactions.

Mas Ermieyati said the committee wanted the agreement finalised urgently to protect the bail fund, and that operating without a contract for five years was an excessively long period of financial non-compliance.

Key facts

  • Dapat Vista invested RM130.8 million in bail deposits under its own name without a formal government contract.
  • The company earned between RM4 million and RM5 million in interest annually from the investments.
  • The e-Jamin system operated at 192 courts nationwide without a formal contract since January 10, 2020.
  • The Public Accounts Committee found an unreconciled gap of RM557,258 between e-Jamin's records and the company's bank statements.

Three perspectives

Neutral

The Public Accounts Committee's findings have raised concerns over the handling of bail deposits and the lack of a formal contract between Dapat Vista and the Federal Government. The committee's recommendations aim to protect the bail fund and ensure full government ownership of the data. The development of the e-Jamin system will be closely watched to ensure that it operates in a transparent and accountable manner.

Positive

The introduction of the e-Jamin system has made it easier for family members to post bail compared to the previous system, which required them to go to a bank. The system has also reduced the time spent in remand for accused persons. The Public Accounts Committee's recommendations will help to improve the system's transparency and accountability.

Negative

The lack of a formal contract between Dapat Vista and the Federal Government has raised concerns over financial non-compliance and the potential risks to the bail fund. The company's investment of RM130.8 million in bail deposits under its own name without government approval has also sparked criticism. The Public Accounts Committee's findings have highlighted the need for greater oversight and regulation of the e-Jamin system.

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