High Court dismisses 1MDB-linked forfeiture suit against Najib, family

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today dismissed the government's application to forfeit luxury items seized from former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, their children and several others.

The items, including handbags of various brands, 27 vehicles and cash of various currencies seized from Najib, Rosmah, their three children and five other respondents, were allegedly linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, in dismissing the application by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to forfeit the items, said the AGC had failed to prove the nexus between the properties seized and the unlawful activities

"The properties seized from Najib, Rosmah, their two children, Nor Ashman Razak and Nooryana Najwa, as well as Najib's stepson, Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, were seized from premises occupied or previously occupied by them and they are in any event, from the same family.

"No evidence has been proferred to show that the properties seized from the five respondents were bought using the monies in Najib's bank account. The applicant (AGC) had in fact admitted that some of the properties seized were gifts," said the judge.

Justice Mohamed Zaini said the applicant had merely listed down the properties seized and their value and in turn concluded that the five respondents did not have the means to have such a huge amount of cash or purchase these properties based on their income, or the lack of it.

"It is apparent that the applicant had only come to this conclusion based on presumption and it is insufficient as the applicant needs to credibly proof a direct link between the monies that were allegedly illegally gained to the cash found and the properties bought," he said.

The judge also rejected the application to forfeit a bungalow erected on two plots of land in Tanjung Bungah Park, Penang, as well as the money kept in three Hong Leong bank accounts owned by the 13th respondent Puan Sri Goh Gaik Ewe, who is the mother of fugitive businessman, Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

"The applicant had merely shown monies credited into the bank accounts but did not provide any evidence on how these bank accounts were related to or used for the commission of the unlawful activities.

"The relationship between the 13th respondent and any of the characters or entities in the 1MDB affairs was conspicuously missing and there were many glaring discrepancies in the affidavits by the investigating officers which were never corrected or explained," he said.

The government also failed to forfeit monies kept in the seven bank accounts belonging to the 14th and 15th respondent, Goldman Sachs' ex-banker Roger Ng and his wife, Lim Hwee Bin, on a similar finding that the applicant did not provide evidence that the bank accounts were related to or used for the commission of the unlawful activities.

"The applicant also did not offer any evidence to show how the monies deposited into these bank accounts were linked to any illegal transaction...I am inclined to agree with their counsel and therefore dismissed the application," said Justice Mohamed Zaini.

The court also denied the government's request to forfeit 26 Nissan Urvan and a Nissan X-Trail vehicles owned by the seventh and eighth respondent named in the forfeiture suit, a management consultancy services company, Senijauhar Sdn Bhd and an individual named Aiman Ruslan, respectively.

Deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong informed the court that the AGC will be appealing against the ruling.

Meanwhile, the court allowed the government's bid to forfeit the assets from eight other respondents as they did not contest to the application namely Mohd Kyizzad Mesran, Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, Yayasan Semesta, Yayasan Mustika Kasih, Rembulan Kembara Sdn Bhd and three former 1MDB officers who have absconded, Kee Kok Thiam, Tan Vern Tact and Geh Choh Hun.

On May 8, 2019, the AGC filed a notice of motion to forfeit hundreds of items, allegedly linked to the 1MDB scandal, including handbags of various brands and 27 vehicles seized from Najib, Rosmah, their three children, as well as 13 individuals and companies.

Also, money amounting to more than RM18 million in several bank accounts at Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, Al-Rajhi Bank Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd, CIMB Bank Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, AmBank Bhd and Hong Leong Bank Bhd, that was frozen between Aug 16, 2018, and March 11, 2019.

In the forfeiture notice, the prosecution named Najib, Rosmah, their children Nor Ashman, Riza Shahriz and Nooryana Najwa; Mohd Kyizzad; Senijauhar; Aiman; Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia; Yayasan Semesta; Mustika Kasih Foundation; Rembulan Kembara Sdn Bhd; Goh, Roger Ng and Lim and three former 1MDB officers, Kee, Tan and Geh Choh Hun as the first to 18th respondents.

Among the items mentioned in the notice are handbags, shoes and watches of various brands, as well as cash in various currencies that were seized by the police on May 17, 2018, and June 11, 2018, as well as 27 vehicles that were seized on Aug 2, 2018, and a piece of land in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

-- BERNAMA