Govt to return alleged 1MDB funds of RM21.7mil to 11 appellants
MACC took out legal action in June 2021 to recover funds allegedly transferred from Najib Razak’s bank accounts. (AP pic)
PUTRAJAYA: The government will return alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM21.7 million forfeited from 11 individuals, business entities and political parties.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Kamal Baharin Omar told a three-member Court of Appeal bench today that the prosecution team had been instructed to withdraw its appeals in the matter.
“A notice of discontinuance was filed last Friday,” he told the bench chaired by Justice Kamaludin Said.
The DPP said the forfeited sums will also be returned to the 11 respondents.
Kamaludin, who sat with Justices Abu Bakar Jais and Supang Lian, then struck out the appeals.
The 11 respondents, and they amounts they received some 10 years ago, were: Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd (RM10,747,042.77), Mediaedge CIA Sdn Bhd (RM4,631,602), AGA Touch Sdn Bhd (RM3 million), Johor Barisan Nasional Johor (RM957,395.65), Pekan Umno division (RM700,000), Johor Umno (RM677,872.55), Jakel Trading (RM628,314), Sarawak United People’s Party (RM188,132.26), Yayasan PBAKM (RM100,000), Kasitah Gaddam (RM100,000) and Sim Sai Hoon (RM41,261.64).
Four separate High Courts in Kuala Lumpur had in 2021 allowed the government to forfeit the money from the 11 respondents.
Apart from that, the High Courts had also dismissed the government’s application to seize another RM2.1 million from two political parties, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (RM1 million), Pahang MCA (RM835,258.19), and seven individuals (totalling RM265,146.16).
Those cases are also pending in the Court of Appeal.
Kamaludin said the prosecution must also act consistently in the three appeals.
In reply, Kamal Baharin said the lawyers in the three cases were at liberty to make representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Pahang MCA’s lawyer Ben Chan said he hoped the AGC will consider his client’s representations favourably.
“We hope the AGC will accept our representations,” he told FMT after the proceedings.
During case management later, the three were allowed until Feb 10 to file their respective representations.
The bench is scheduled to hear their cases on March 28.
In June 2019, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) filed civil forfeiture applications against 41 individuals and entities to recover RM270 million allegedly transferred from Najib Razak’s bank accounts.
The 14 appeals today were from among those 41 cases.
The forfeiture applications were filed under Section 56 of Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), commonly known as “Amla”.
The biggest recipients were Umno divisions and branches, getting a total of RM212 million.
Some of the recipients have since returned the money to MACC.
Najib is facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited in his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
PUTRAJAYA: The government will return alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM21.7 million forfeited from 11 individuals, business entities and political parties.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Kamal Baharin Omar told a three-member Court of Appeal bench today that the prosecution team had been instructed to withdraw its appeals in the matter.
“A notice of discontinuance was filed last Friday,” he told the bench chaired by Justice Kamaludin Said.
The DPP said the forfeited sums will also be returned to the 11 respondents.
Kamaludin, who sat with Justices Abu Bakar Jais and Supang Lian, then struck out the appeals.
The 11 respondents, and they amounts they received some 10 years ago, were: Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd (RM10,747,042.77), Mediaedge CIA Sdn Bhd (RM4,631,602), AGA Touch Sdn Bhd (RM3 million), Johor Barisan Nasional Johor (RM957,395.65), Pekan Umno division (RM700,000), Johor Umno (RM677,872.55), Jakel Trading (RM628,314), Sarawak United People’s Party (RM188,132.26), Yayasan PBAKM (RM100,000), Kasitah Gaddam (RM100,000) and Sim Sai Hoon (RM41,261.64).
Four separate High Courts in Kuala Lumpur had in 2021 allowed the government to forfeit the money from the 11 respondents.
Apart from that, the High Courts had also dismissed the government’s application to seize another RM2.1 million from two political parties, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (RM1 million), Pahang MCA (RM835,258.19), and seven individuals (totalling RM265,146.16).
Those cases are also pending in the Court of Appeal.
Kamaludin said the prosecution must also act consistently in the three appeals.
In reply, Kamal Baharin said the lawyers in the three cases were at liberty to make representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
Pahang MCA’s lawyer Ben Chan said he hoped the AGC will consider his client’s representations favourably.
“We hope the AGC will accept our representations,” he told FMT after the proceedings.
During case management later, the three were allowed until Feb 10 to file their respective representations.
The bench is scheduled to hear their cases on March 28.
In June 2019, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) filed civil forfeiture applications against 41 individuals and entities to recover RM270 million allegedly transferred from Najib Razak’s bank accounts.
The 14 appeals today were from among those 41 cases.
The forfeiture applications were filed under Section 56 of Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), commonly known as “Amla”.
The biggest recipients were Umno divisions and branches, getting a total of RM212 million.
Some of the recipients have since returned the money to MACC.
Najib is facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited in his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
The names for a Roll of Dishonour.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt these individuals and organisations received stolen 1MDB funds.
Their only defence is "I don't know nothing about nothing" and also that the money is GONE, so they can't pay it back.
I know DAMN WELL as a common citizen, if I bought a stolen car, I am liable for criminal prosecution as well as confistication of the car.
But those who took stolen 1MDB funds stand to get away scott-free.