Govt to return RM2.1 million allegedly linked to 1MDB

The government will return a sum of RM2.1 million allegedly linked to 1MDB and forfeited from two political parties and the family of the late former Paya Besar MP Abdul Manan Ismail.

The political parties are the Pahang MCA liaison committee and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

This was after deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar informed the Court of Appeal today that the Attorney-General's Chambers had received representations from the three appellants – the Pahang MCA liaison committee, PBRS and Manan's family – and agreed not to contest their appeals.

He said the funds and interest accrued, which were forfeited by the government, would be released to the three appellants within two months from today.

Lawyer Ben Chan, representing the Pahang MCA liaison committee, told the court that his client's representation was for the AGC to consider, to allow its appeal.
 
Following this, a three-member bench of the Court of Appeal led by justice Kamaludin Md Said allowed the appeals and set aside the rulings of the High Court.

The other members of the bench were justices Abu BakarJais and Supang Lian.

In 2020, three separate High Courts allowed the prosecution's applications to forfeit a total of RM2.1 million from the Pahang MCA liaison committee, PBRS and Manan's family.

Of the amount, RM1 million was from PBRS, RM835,258.19 from the Pahang MCA liaison committee, and RM265,146.16 from Rohizah Ahmad and six others.

On Jan 30 this year, the prosecution withdrew its appeals in the Court of Appeal to forfeit RM21.7 million belonging to 11 entities and individuals, including Pekan Umno and the Johor Umno liaison committee, allegedly linked to 1MDB.
  
The other funds were from Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, Jakel Trading, Johor Bahru Barisan Nasional division, Mediaedge CIA Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sarawak United People's Party, Strategic Engagement Media Sdn Bhd director Sim Sai Hoon, AGA Touch Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Yayasan Persatuan Bekas Anggota Kemas Malaysia and former land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam.

The three cases today are the last of the 41 entities from which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission sought to recover assets said to have been paid for with funds from 1MDB. 

At today's proceedings, lawyer Avinash Kamalanathan represented PBRS, Chan and Sangeetha Vasanth Kumar represented the Pahang MCA liaison committee and Nur Jehan Abu Bakar represented the family of Manan.

Also appearing for the prosecution were deputy public prosecutors Samihah Rhazali and Nik Haslinie Hashim.