KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has allowed an application by former Bersatu Youth chief Adam Asmuni to submit new evidence in his appeal over the forfeiture of a luxury car and goods seized by authorities during a drug raid.
The evidence is said to be in the form of bank account statements,
Justice K. Muniandy made the ruling Wednesday (May 21) after hearing the submissions by Adam’s lawyer Amirrul Jamaluddin and DPP Mohamad Shahrizat Amadan.
In his submission, Amirrul said the bank statements for 2014 to 2019 of Adam’s company, Percetakan Alfa Gemilang, could be used as evidence to support his appeal against the forfeiture order issued by the Sessions Court on March 14, 2023 under Section 32 (2) of the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988.
"The bank statements are relevant in the appeal to show my client's strong financial status, where his income is from Percetakan Alfa Gemilang.
"The company is legitimate and has obtained tenders worth millions of ringgit from the government.
"Therefore, the seized assets are also from legitimate sources," he said.
Amirrul also told the court that the bank account statements could not be obtained earlier.
DPP Shahrizhat, who objected to the application, said the statements should have been submitted during the forfeiture hearing proceedings at the Sessions Court two years ago.
Justice Muniandy then set June 30 for the hearing of the appeal regarding the forfeiture case.
On March 14, 2023, Sessions judge Nor Hasniah Ab Razak dismissed the application by Adam and his wife, Lyiana Roslee, to recover two luxury cars, other cars, motorcycle,s cash, luxury watches, handbags, laptops, bracelets, necklaces, and Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) accounts.
In January, Adam was sentenced to seven years in prison and 10 strokes of the cane by the Shah Alam High Court after pleading guilty to an optional charge of possessing cannabis.
He is currently in Kajang Prison. However, Lyiana was discharged and acquitted after the prosecution withdrew the charges. – Bernama
