High Court postpones hearing of 1MDB-linked forfeiture suit after new letters are submitted

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has postponed the hearing of a 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-linked forfeiture suit against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and 17 others to Aug 30 due to a new development in the case.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin informed Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that the prosecution had received letters regarding the case and needed time to study them.

"The letters are interrelated with other (1MDB-linked) forfeiture suits. We are considering these letters.

"However, due to the movement control order, we need more time to hold discussions," she told the court here on Friday (July 23).

Other parties in the case did not object to the adjournment and Justice Mohamed Zaini then postponed the hearing to Aug 30 for the prosecution's oral submission.

When met by the press, DPP Faten said the letters were from one of the counsels in the case.

She said the prosecution could not disclose the content of the letters or when they were received.

"It is interrelated (to the other forfeiture suits) so it affects the seized items in this case," she said without revealing further.

In May 2019, the government filed a forfeiture suit against Najib and 17 others to recover assets said to be linked to the controversial sovereign fund.

The first notice of motion named Najib, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, their children Nor Ashman Razak, 31, and Nooryana Najwa, 33, and Rosmah’s film producer son Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, 45, as respondents.

The same notice also named Roger Ng, 49, and his wife Lim Hwee Bin, 50.

It also named six other individuals – Mohd Kyizzad Mesran, 40; Aiman Ruslan, 34; Puan Sri Goh Gaik Ewe, 69; Kee Kok Thiam, 49; Tan Vern Tact, 45; and Geh Choh Hun, 42.

Goh is the mother of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, who is a central figure in the 1MDB scandal.

Kee, Tan, and Geh are said to be associates of Low.

Also named are companies – Senijauhar Sdn Bhd and Rembulan Kembara Sdn Bhd – and three foundations – Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, Yayasan Semesta and Yayasan Mustika Kasih.

The items listed are luxury goods (263 handbags, 14 watches and 27 shoes), 27 vehicles, RM19,064,205.58, multiple foreign currencies and a property in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

A third company – Obyu Holdings Sdn Bhd – is the sole respondent in a second notice of motion filed separately.

The government sought to forfeit 11,990 pieces of jewellery, 401 watches and 16 units of watch accessories, 234 sunglasses, 306 handbags, RM114,164,393.44 in cash and a property in Kuala Lumpur from Obyu Holdings.