S'wak businessman pays over RM3mil to settle 1MDB linked lawsuit

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawakian businessman Tan Sri Bustari Yusof has agreed to surrender more than RM3mil to the government as a settlement over a civil forfeiture suit, over funds allegedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai told the High Court on Tuesday (Nov 26), that Bustari had agreed to pay RM3,683,117.94 to the government.

Allan told the court that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had received a cheque for the sum from Bustari, who is the brother of Petra Jaya MP and former works minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, on Monday (Nov 25).

He added that he was withdrawing the forfeiture suit against Bustari following a representation letter from the respondent (Bustari) and the settlement.

High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the forfeiture suit to be withdrawn.

The Government, through the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), had originally sought RM11,923,934.54 from the businessman, alleging that the funds that were linked to 1MDB.

Allan also requested for the RM11.9mil funds, which had been frozen due to the suit, to be unfrozen.

Counsel Datuk Mohd Yusof Abiden, who represented Bustari, confirmed that the respondent sent the cheque to MACC on Monday.

Mohd Yusof also thanked the prosecution for withdrawing the suit.

Tiara Katrina Fuad also sat as counsel for Bustari.

Bustari was among 41 individuals and entities served with a civil forfeiture suit by the MACC earlier this year, in a bid to recover about RM270mil allegedly linked to 1MDB.