THE government will return RM21.7 million in alleged 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds belonging to 11 entities and individuals.

In proceedings before a three-member Court of Appeal bench today, deputy public prosecutor Kamal Bahrin said the prosecution had withdrawn its appeals against the respondents.

The notice of discontinuance was filed on Friday.

The entities and individuals concerned are Pekan Umno, Johor Umno, Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, Jakel Trading, Johor Baru Barisan Nasional (BN) division, Mediaedge CIA Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP), Strategic Engagement Media Sdn Bhd director Sim Sai Hoon, AGA Touch Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Yayasan Persatuan Bekas Anggota Kemas Malaysia (Yayasan PBAKM) and former land and cooperative development minister Kasitah Gaddam.

Justice Kamaludin Md Said, who presided with Justices Abu Bakar Jais and Supang Lian, then struck out the appeals.

The prosecution was unsuccessful in the High Court to forfeit RM700,000 from Pekan Umno, RM100,000 from Yayasan PBAKM,  

RM628,314 from Jakel Trading, RM10,747,042.77 from Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, RM677,872.55, from the Johor Umno committee, RM957,395.65 from Johor Baru BN. 

A separate High Court had also dismissed the prosecution’s appeal to forfeit RM100,000 from Kasitah, RM3 million belonging to AGA Touch (M) Sdn Bhd, an IT firm, RM41,261.64 from Sim, RM188,138.26 from SUPP and RM4,631,602 from Mediaedge CIA.

Meanwhile, the court fixed March 28 to hear the appeals brought by Pahang MCA, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and the family of the late former Paya Besar MP and Umno division head Abdul Manan Ismail.

This is to enable them to file their respective representations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) following the prosecution’s stand to withdraw its appeals for the 11 cases.

Justice Kamaludin, chairing the bench, said there must be consistency since the prosecution has withdrawn its appeal for the 11 cases.

He then suggested that counsels for the three cases submit their representations to the AGC.

Kamaludin then ordered the three parties to go for case management. 

A case management was subsequently conducted before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosli, who then set March 28 for hearing for the three appeals. He also gave the parties until February 10 to submit their representations to the AGC.

Three separate High Courts had allowed the prosecution’s application to forfeit monies totalling RM2.1 million from Pahang MCA, PBRS and Manan’s family.

The 14 cases today are among 41 entities from which the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission sought to recover assets said to have been paid for using funds from 1MDB. – Bernama, January 30, 2023.