THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has dismissed Pekan Umno’s stay application against a forfeiture suit by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which is seeking to recover RM700,000 linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ruled that there is no merit for a stay, pending another appeal at the Court of Appeal, as there are no special mitigating circumstances.

He fixed November 15 to hear third-party claimants to the monies.

Deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai represented the government.

Pekan Umno previously refused to settle the sum sought by MACC as it wanted the suit struck out on the grounds that it was not in procedural compliance.

Its lawyer, M. Reza Hassan, in August challenged the suit, saying the office-bearer was not named, therefore nullifying the prosecution’s case.

Prosecutors then refiled the suit, naming Pekan MP Najib Razak as the office-bearer for the Umno division.

His son, Pekan Umno Youth chief Mohd Nizar Najib, is also on the list of more than 40 respondents submitted to the court.

MACC has filed forfeiture suits against 41 individuals and entities in a bid to recover RM270 million in 1MDB-linked funds. – October 3, 2019.