The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed that the company managing Malaysia’s courts’ online bail payment system invested RM130.8 million of bail funds under its own name, generating as much as RM5 million annually in interest without a formal government contract for five years. Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, PAC chairman, disclosed the findings in a report on the e-Jamin system presented to the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
According to Mas Ermieyati, bail monies paid through the e-Jamin platform were deposited into the commercial accounts of Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, the system operator, instead of the Consolidated Trust Account as required by law. This arrangement contravenes Article 97(1) of the Federal Constitution and Section 7 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957, which govern the handling of public funds.
As of December 31, 2024, RM193.71 million in bail deposits were held via the system. Of this, RM130.8 million had been placed in investments under Dapat Vista’s name, earning interest estimated between RM4 million and RM5 million per year. Mas Ermieyati noted that e-Jamin has been operational in 192 courts nationwide since January 10, 2020, but has lacked official documentation such as a letter of appointment, letter of acceptance, or a binding contract with the Federal Government throughout its duration.
The e-Jamin system was initially introduced to allow accused persons to pay bail electronically, aiming to reduce the time spent in remand—especially for those charged late in the day after banking hours had ended. While the project functioned as a proof of concept approved by the Chief Justice, it was implemented without adhering to established government procurement protocols.
The committee further highlighted significant governance concerns, noting that the bail fund had no trustee, performance bond, or insurance coverage. This means individuals who posted bail could be considered ordinary creditors if Dapat Vista were to become insolvent. Additionally, the PAC identified an unreconciled discrepancy of RM557,258 between e-Jamin’s transaction records and the company’s bank statements—a figure attributed to the volume of daily bail transactions.
Mas Ermieyati criticized the prolonged period of financial non-compliance, stating that operating without a formal agreement for five years despite repeated special exemptions was unacceptable. She urged an immediate finalization of the contract to safeguard the bail fund and recommended that the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court develop its own bail payment module. This would reduce reliance on third-party vendors and ensure that all bail transaction data remains under government ownership.