Court orders Najib to pay RM1.69bil additional income tax in summary judgement

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak Returns To Court

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has ruled that Datuk Seri Najib Razak must pay additional income tax totalling RM1.69bil to the government.

This is following a summary judgment that has been entered against the former prime minister.

A summary judgment is when a court makes it decision without going to a full trial.

"There exist no triable issues to warrant a full trial. Consequently, the court has no alternative but to enter a summary judgment against the defendant for the amount claimed by the plaintiff.

"This court holds that a summary judgment is entered against the defendant for the amount claimed by the plaintiff as in the plaintiff's statement of claims, that is RM1,692,872,924.83 with cost," Justice Ahmad Bache said here Wednesday (July 22).

The court also fixed RM15,000 in costs.

On June 25,2019, the government, through the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), filed suit against Najib seeking payment for a total of RM1,692,872,924.83, with 5% a year interest from the date of judgment, as well as costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

It also said Najib was given 60 days to pay the taxes but had failed to do so.

In July the same year, Najib filed an application to stay the proceedings of the main suit pending an appeal on the tax assessment to IRB, but it was dismissed, resulting in a hearing of submission for summary judgment.