PAC finds eJamin's operations by Pertama Digital without a formal contract undermine bail fund governance

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PAC: eJamin without a formal contract

Highlights

PAC finds that eJamin, owned by Pertama Digital Bhd, operated for five years in 192 courts without a formal contract and breached procurement rules.
As of the end of 2024, bail deposits stood at RM193.71 million, with RM130.8 million invested by Dapat Vista without approval, generating RM4–5 million in interest and posing legal risks.
The government extended eJamin's use until 31 Dec 2025 under a special exemption, rejected Dapat Vista's RM40–80 million commercial proposal, and called for a formal contract and full government ownership of the funds.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

PAC findings on eJamin operations and funds

The Edge Malaysia reported that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that eJamin, operated by Pertama Digital Bhd through Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, had operated for five years without a formal agreement, although the system was implemented in 192 courts nationwide from 10 Jan 2020.

The system began following a 2017 study by Dapat Vista to facilitate bail payments in court. According to the PAC, the implementation of the pilot concept received the Chief Justice's approval but did not comply with prevailing government financial procurement procedures.

The PAC also said bail funds were deposited into Dapat Vista's commercial bank account rather than the federal government's Consolidated Trust Account, contravening Article 97(1) of the Federal Constitution and Section 7 of the Financial Procedure Act 1957. As of the end of 2024, outstanding bail deposits totalled RM193.71 million, but only RM62.3 million was held in bank accounts, while the remaining RM130.8 million was invested by Dapat Vista in instruments including sukuk without approval or legal authority.

Those investments enabled Dapat Vista to earn between RM4 million and RM5 million in interest, which the company regarded as service income, according to the committee. The PAC also identified a RM557,258 discrepancy between the eJamin system records and the company's bank statements, with the difference yet to be verified.

The committee also raised the absence of a trustee structure, performance bond or insurance protection to safeguard bail funds. This means bail sureties would become unsecured creditors if Dapat Vista became insolvent, while increasing the government's financial and legal risks should the company face financial difficulties or liquidation.

Government measures and implications for the judiciary

eJamin was suspended in April 2024 after findings of non-compliance with financial procedures emerged, but the move drew widespread objections from the Malaysian Bar Council, legal practitioners and the public, who were concerned about disruption to the justice system and bail release process. This led to intervention by several government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, which in a letter dated 17 May 2024 directed that eJamin services be temporarily continued to avoid disruption to government service delivery.

The system resumed on 24 May, with the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court seeking a special financial exemption from the Ministry of Finance to allow eJamin to continue operating under the existing arrangement. The ministry subsequently granted a special interim exemption on 28 Nov 2024 to maintain the status quo until December 2024, before extending it twice until 31 Dec 2025.

According to the PAC, the Prime Minister's Department in March 2024 instructed the Office of the Chief Registrar to transfer bail funds from Dapat Vista's account to the main account of the Accounts Division of the Prime Minister's Office and proposed appointing the company as a collection agent. However, Dapat Vista rejected the proposal, stating that eJamin would be discontinued if the funds were transferred.

Instead, on 18 Aug 2025, Dapat Vista submitted three resolution options—an outright purchase, subscription, or hybrid model—valued at RM40 million to RM80 million, to avoid disruption to users. The Ministry of Finance rejected the commercial proposal and decided to retain the existing system under a formal contract with a trustee structure.

The PAC urged the government to expedite negotiations between the Office of the Chief Registrar and the Ministry of Finance to finalise a formal agreement with Dapat Vista to protect bail funds. The committee also recommended that the government finalise the definition of "public funds" and urged court registrars to develop their own internal bail module through the eCourt Finance or e-Kehakiman system to reduce reliance on vendors and ensure full government ownership of the data.

We previously reported on the proposed Charity Bill to regulate public fundraising, as the government assesses a new framework to ensure that funds held in trust are managed more transparently and responsibly. The article also explained how controversies involving charitable organisations have affected donor confidence, as well as the need to strike a balance between stricter oversight and the compliance burden on legitimate small organisations.

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