Nov 8 decision on whether govt can forfeit luxury items

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has set Nov 8 to deliver its decision on whether to grant the government’s application to forfeit items seized from Najib Razak and various individuals and companies after May 9, 2018.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan made this decision after deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong informed the court that the prosecution had submitted written submissions to support its application..

Harris said they would be relying on the written submissions and would not make oral submissions before the court.

“I believe all of us have agreed for the court to fix a date for decision,” he said.

The judge then responded in jest: “It’s going to be a good week”.

Zaini said the court would need about two months to decide and would prepare a written judgment by Nov 8.

The government is seeking to forfeit hundreds of items seized from Najib and 17 individuals and companies in 2018, claiming the items were proceeds from unlawful activities.

Among the individuals named in the forfeiture bid are Rosmah Mansor, Riza Aziz, Najib’s children, former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng and Low Taek Jho’s mother, Goh Gaik Ewe.

The items include luxury handbags, cash in different currencies, watches, shoes and 27 vehicles.

Besides that, a sum of RM18 million in various bank accounts and a bungalow belonging to Low’s family in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, have been seized.

Meanwhile, three individuals linked to Low – Kee Kok Thiam, Tan Vern Tact and Geh Choh Hun – were treated as absconded persons and under Section 63 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act or AMLA, the prosecution could dispense with the service of a notice of the lawsuit.

Lawyers Syazwani Mohd Zawawi, Syahirah Hanapiah appeared for Najib, and Azamuddin Aziz, Iskandar Shah Ibrahim for Rosmah and her children Riza, Nooryana and Norashman.

M Puravalen and Tan Hock Chuan appeared for Goh and Ng, respectively. — Free Malaysia Today