THE Malaysian government has appointed a Singapore law firm as its solicitor to institute legal action against 53 individuals and companies, to claim monies belonging to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

A source said Attorney-General Tommy Thomas approved the appointment of the firm, Tan Rajah & Cheah, earlier this week.

The source said the Malaysian government will file an application at the high court in Singapore against the 53 defendants for orders to recover the monies.

The source said Thomas met Singapore Attorney-General Lucien Wong recently to facilitate the return of the funds, which have been frozen by Singapore authorities.

Among the 53 defendants is Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

“Court orders are necessary to release the monies to 1MDB or the government of Malaysia,” said the source.

Malaysia has to appoint solicitors from Singapore to file the action as Malaysian lawyers cannot appear in Singapore courts.

On May 31, the 1MDB special task force, in a statement, said Singapore and Malaysia had agreed to collaborate to bring back the monies, believed to have been embezzled from the state investor. – Bernama, July 18, 2018.