Sundra Rajoo drops suit against Thomas and 12 others

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) director Datuk Prof Dr N. Sundra Rajoo has withdrawn his suit against former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas and 12 other parties over his wrongful arrest and prosecution in relation to the AIAC breach of trust case.

He filed the withdrawal note through Messrs Cheok Ng Lee Law Chambers on March 8.

The note stated that Sundra Rajoo as the plaintiff fully discontinued the suit filed on Oct 15, 2021 against the defendants with no order regarding costs and without liberty to file afresh.

The matter was confirmed by Sundra Rajoo’s counsel, TJ Lee, when contacted yesterday.

Lee said the suit was discontinued because a settlement had been reached with the government and one of the terms of the settlement was to withdraw the suit.

“However, the terms of the settlement agreement cannot be disclosed,” the lawyer added.

On July 21 last year, High Court Judge Datuk Ahmad Bache dismissed the application by Thomas and 12 other defendants to quash Sundra Rajoo’s suit after ruling that the lawsuit was not a straightforward case, considering the narrative of facts exceeded more than one page.

The defendants appealed against the High Court’s decision and the appeal was supposed to be heard on June 13.

Besides Thomas, also named as defendants are Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) former chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohamad Shukri Abdull, several MACC officers and DPPs namely Khong Hui Li, Mohd Adrian Zaiman Zainiar, Md Yusrin Md Yusof, Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zamry, T. Nesavan, G. Sharan Raj, Hasmizzy Md Hasim, Kamal Baharin Omar and Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh, as well as MACC and the government.

Bernama reported that in his statement of claim, Sundra Rajoo stated that on the order of Mohamad Shukri and Thomas, MACC officers Mohd Adrian and Md Yusrin wrongfully detained him from 8pm on Nov 20, 2018 to 5pm the following day at the KL International Airport.

He claimed that his detention was a violation of Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution.

He contended that Mohd Adrian and Md Yusrin detained him although he told them that he had been granted privileges and immunity of a diplomatic agent in his capacity as the then AIAC director.

Following which, Sundra Rajoo claimed that he was remanded and removed from his position as AIAC director.

As a result of the detention, he claimed he was ridiculed and his reputation was affected negatively.

He had sought special damages amounting to RM3,749,557.26, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as other relief deemed fit by the court.