PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal struck out a bid by the family of deceased private investigator P. Balasubramaniam to reinstate a suit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and seven others over an alleged conspiracy.
A three-man panel led by Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh today allowed an application by Najib and the seven others to set aside the appeal notice filed by the deceased's widow A. Santamil Selvi and her three children.
The panel - also comprised of Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli and Datuk Zamani A. Rahim - ruled that the said notice was defective. It awarded RM5,000 cost to each of the eight respondents.
Aside from Najib, the other respondents are his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, his brothers Datuk Ahmad Johari Razak and Datuk Mohamed Nazim Razak, lawyers Tan Sri Cecil Abraham, Sunil Abraham and M. Arunampalam, and commissioner of oaths Zainal Abidin Muhayat.
The panel also fixed May 6 for case management of the appeal against carpet dealer Deepak Jaikishan, a respondent who did not seek to strike out said appeal notice.
On Dec 11 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed the suit by Santamil, Kishen, Menaga, and Reeshi.
Balasubramaniam's family had sued over loss allegedly suffered due to a purported conspiracy over the 2008 murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Balasubramaniam died of a heart attack on March 15, 2013, within weeks of returning from India.