KUCHING, Aug 20: SUPP feels finally vindicated after the courts dismissed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) civil forfeiture suit over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
Following the decision by the High Court yesterday, MACC failed to forfeit RM188,138.26 that was seized from SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party).
“SUPP welcomes the High Court’s decision in dismissing the forfeiture action taken by MACC yesterday.
“SUPP has since the very start cooperated with the investigation and with the court. We feel vindicated that the High Court agrees with our case and dismissed the claim by MACC,” SUPP Secretariat asserted in a press statement today.
On June 21, 2019, MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya announced that the commission had filed civil forfeiture suits against 41 recipients and entities to recover RM270 million related to the 1MDB fund scandal.
Among the 41 recipients who received the monies from former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank account was SUPP.
According to Bernama, Judicial Commissioner Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salled said yesterday the court found that the anti-graft agency had not adduced sufficient evidence to support its application to warrant an order for forfeiture to be granted.
He also said under the circumstance that MACC had failed to prove the requirements under Section 56 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) to have the sum forfeited from SUPP, the application was dismissed.
Against the decision, MACC deputy public prosecutor Abdul Rashid Sulaiman said the prosecution would file a notice of appeal. — DayakDaily
