THE prosecution has applied for a stay of execution for a high court decision ordering the return of RM194 million that was seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from Umno, Wanita MCA and two companies: Binsabi Sdn Bhd and Perano Sdn Bhd.

The monies were seized by the MACC last year, allegedly linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

After case management in chambers, deputy public prosecutor Samihah Rhazali said the stay application was filed on February 14 pending the hearing of its appeal against the court’s decision on the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

On February 7, the high court dismissed the prosecution’s applications to forfeit the monies that were seized from the four entities.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan dismissed the applications on the grounds that the monies could not be convincingly tied to former prime minister Najib Razak and that there was no evidence to prove that the monies came from unlawful activities.

The forfeiture applications against Umno involved RM193 million and RM300,000 against Wanita MCA, while the sums from Perano Sdn Bhd, which sells hijab, and Binsabi Sdn Bhd, which supplies tents, were RM338,000 and RM827,000, respectively, also alleged to have orginated from the former prime minister.

However, the prosecution, applied for a stay of the ruling pending the filing of its appeal.

The judge then gave an interim order for the accounts to remain frozen until the disposal of the stay application and instructed the prosecution to file a notice of appeal by next Friday.

During today’s proceeding, Samihah said the court also set March 10 for case management on the prosecution’s application against Binsabi Sdn Bhd.

She said the court set March 2 for Binsabi, represented by lawyer Mohd Khalil Tajuddin, to file their affidavit in reply to the prosecution’s application. – Bernama, February 17, 2020.