Umno withdraws appeal for return of RM116.7m seized from Pavilion condo raid
theedgemarkets.com
September 01, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 1): Umno has withdrawn its appeal against the High Court's decision in March 2019 that struck out its suit to claim back RM116.7 million said to be seized during a raid by the authorities at a Pavilion condominium here in 2018.
Lawyer Syazwani Mohd Zawawi confirmed this when contacted by theedgemarkets.com. “We have been instructed by Umno last Aug 24 to withdraw the said appeal, as it will be deemed academic. We have filed a notice of discontinuance on Monday, Aug 30, to withdraw the said appeal,” Syazwani said.
The original suit seeking the return of the money was filed in 2018 by Umno's then organising secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh, in which he named the Malaysian government, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Fuzi Harun, the former Commercial Crime Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh, his deputy Datuk Mohd Sakri Arifin, and ACP R Rajagopal Ramadhasas as defendants. But Justice Datuk Nik Hasmat struck out the suit in March the following year, on grounds that it was trivial in nature.
Last month, it was reported that some RM114 million in the form of various foreign and local currencies that were seized during the raid on the Pavilion condo had been returned to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, after the prosecution failed in its forfeiture application, with High Court Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin dismissing the forfeiture application in May.
The Edge reported, citing a source close to the forfeiture case, that the money had been returned through a representative of Najib.
Both Najib, a former president of Umno, and Umno itself, had claimed that the amount belonged to the Malay nationalist party.
With the appeal withdrawal, Syazwani expects the hearing of the matter — which has been scheduled for tomorrow at the Court of Appeal — will be cancelled.
RM114m seized at Pavilion condo returned to Najib — source
theedgemarkets.com
August 05, 2021 16:56 pm +08
A source close to the case told The Edge today that the money was returned through a representative of Najib (pic), but it was not clear if the cash was given to Umno. (Photo by Mohd Suhaimi Mohamed Yusuf/The Edge)
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 5): Some RM114 million in cash seized during a dramatic raid at Pavilion Residences in 2018 has been returned to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak via his representative, according to a source.
This came after the High Court on May 20 dismissed the application by the government to forfeit the money, followed by the prosecution’s move not to appeal against the decision.
The RM114 million, which was mostly in foreign currencies and purportedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), was claimed by Najib, a former president of Umno, and by the party itself.
A source close to the case told The Edge today that the money was returned through a representative of Najib, but it was not clear if the cash was given to Umno.
The Edge has reached out to Umno’s lawyers and is awaiting their response.
Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin, who dismissed the forfeiture suit on May 20, did not make any order as to whom the money should be returned to.
The RM114 million was seized during a police raid on a luxury condominium unit owned by OBYU Holdings Sdn Bhd on May 17, 2018, shortly after the previous general election.
Justice Jamil in his judgement said the prosecution had failed to prove that the money was obtained from illegal activities.
The judge also said that the prosecution had failed to bring any evidence that the cash originated from 1MDB.
As the case was decided on May 20, the last stipulated day to file the notice of appeal should have been June 3 — before the implementation of the full lockdown.
It is understood that the matter was referred to Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, who was said to have decided not to file the appeal.
The condo raid yielded between RM900 million and RM1.1 billion worth of valuables, including close to 12,000 pieces of luxurious jewellery, handbags, watches and cash.
The hearings with regard to the non-cash assets have yet to begin.
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