Govt to return another RM2.1mil from forfeited alleged 1MDB funds
Published on: Tuesday, March 28, 2023
By:
FMT, V Anbalagan
This is the third batch of forfeited funds allegedly linked to 1MDB that the government will return, following similar court orders in January and February. (AP pic)
PUTRAJAYA: The government has been ordered to return RM2.1 million to two political parties and seven individuals forfeited on allegations that they originated from 1MDB.
Deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar told a three-member Court of Appeal bench the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will not be contesting the applicants’ appeals for the return of the monies.
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“Their representations to the AGC has been accepted. We are not challenging their appeals,” Kamal told the panel chaired by Justice Kamaludin Said.
In 2020, three separate High Courts had allowed the government to forfeit RM1 million from Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Pahang MCA (RM835,258.19) and seven individuals (totalling RM265,146.16).
This morning, Kamaludin, who sat with Justices Abu Bakar Jais and Supang Lian, set aside those rulings and ordered the monies returned to the appellants within two months together with interest accrued.
Counsel Avinash Kamalanathan represented PBRS while Nur Jehan Abu Bakar appeared for the individuals.
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These appeals were the final batch of forfeiture cases pending before the Court of Appeal.
The court had previously ordered the government to return RM21.7 million forfeited from 11 individuals, business entities and political parties also on the same basis.
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On Jan 30, Kamal informed the same appeals court panel that the prosecution was withdrawing its appeals against those parties.
The 11 respondents included Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd (RM10,747,042.77), Mediaedge CIA Sdn Bhd (RM4,631,602), AGA Touch Sdn Bhd (RM3 million), Johor Barisan Nasional (RM957,395.65).
On Feb 5, the prosecution also abandoned its appeal to the Federal Court against a Court of Appeal ruling that barred the government from forfeiting about RM194.5 million given by Najib Razak to political parties and business entities.
The government has already returned the forfeited money pursuant to the court orders made in January and February.
In June 2019, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission filed civil forfeiture applications against 41 individuals and entities to recover RM270 million allegedly transferred from Najib’s bank accounts.
The forfeiture applications were filed under Section 56 of Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613), commonly known as Amla.
Najib is facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
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