THE Court of Appeal has set July 1 to hear former PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin’s appeal against an order by the High Court for her to pay RM10 million to the party for breaching the bond binding her to it.

Lawyer Navpreet Singh, representing PKR, when contacted told Bernama the date was fixed during case management before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mariam Hasanah Othman on Monday.

He said parties in the appeal were ordered to submit their written submissions before the date.

On June 23, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Zuraida to pay RM10 million to PKR after allowing the party’s lawsuit.

Judge Akhtar Tahir allowed PKR’s suit after finding Zuraida’s bond to the party was a valid and binding contract. He ordered the former Ampang MP to pay RM50,000 in legal costs.

The suit was filed by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on September 28, 2020, on behalf of the party to claim RM10 million from Zuraida for allegedly breaching the bond.

In the statement of claim, PKR claimed Zuraida signed a bond on April 25, 2018, in which she agreed to pay RM10 million to the party in the event of several incidents, including for resigning from the party/joining other parties/becoming an independent politician after winning elections on a PKR ticket.

Zuraida, in her defence, claimed she was forced to sign the bond to become its candidate in the 2018 general election.

In his decision, Akhtar said Zuraida’s contention that she signed the bond under duress or coercion was baseless.

“The court finds the bond was a valid agreement that binds the defendant (Zuraida) to pay the RM10 million as promised upon her membership being terminated,” he said. – Bernama, October 11, 2023.