Tunku Imran resigns over Bruce Willis issue

KUALA LUMPUR: Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar yesterday announced his resignation as director of all Petra Group companies and as group chairman, saying “enough is enough”.

”I am resigning due to a number of reasons, the latest being the recent lawsuit brought against me and the Petra Group by Hollywood star Bruce Willis alleging that I induced him to part with his money to invest on our ‘green rubber’ project,” he said in a statement issued to Bernama.

”I have never met Willis, let alone persuade him to part with his money. I am however relieved that he has amicably resolved the issue with the company,” said Tunku Imran, adding that “perhaps an apology would have been appropriate”.

On Nov 20, Willis filed the suit in a Los Angeles federal court to recoup US$900,000 (RM3.2mil) which he claims he is owed by the company. But a week later, Willis’ attorney Martin Singer said that the lawsuit was amicably resolved.

Tunku Imran, who founded the Petra Group with its chief executive officer Datuk Vinod Sekhar more than 10 years ago, also revealed his frustrations with the group and took its management to task.

He said: “I have been at all times in a non-executive capacity in the group. It has become obvious that I have not been kept up-to-date and informed of all the “ins and outs” of the company. These included new corporate appointments, new investments, new board members and even new shareholders.”

Tunku Imran said he had received many “surprises” during his tenure with the group, the latest being the Bruce Willis lawsuit.

He also disclosed that he had invested a “substantial amount of money” over a long period in the Petra Group but received no returns.- Bernama