KUALA LUMPUR: Money totalling RM369,662 linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) from the bank accounts of company Naza Quest Auto Sdn Bhd and Umno’s Maran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abdul Muttalib now belongs to the government.
This follows the decision of High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali after he allowed an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regarding the notification to third parties wishing to contest the forfeiture of the funds seized from the company and Umno MP.
MACC Deputy Public Prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai informed the court that no third party has come forward to claim the RM269,662 and RM100,000 the commission had sought to forfeit from the two respectively.
He said the prosecution will withdraw the forfeiture applications against the two respondents after the MACC obtains the money.
Earlier, counsel Md Yunos Sharif who represented Naza Quest Auto told the court that his client has agreed that the money in the company’s Maybank Islamic current account under the company’s name be forfeited to the government.
A consent judgement between the prosecution and Naza Quest Auto was subsequently recorded without admission of liabilities by the company.
Meanwhile, Ismail had in a letter dated June 24 addressed to the High Court stated that he had agreed for the RM100,000 in his account to be forfeited to the government.
The court has also fixed Nov 22, Nov 13 and Nov 5 to hear the applications involving three entities namely Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Kedah Umno liaison, and Habib Jewels Sdn Bhd.
To date, a total of eight from 41 entities have forfeited the money from their account to the government.
MACC chief Latheefa Koya had in a press conference said forfeiture suits were brought against 41 respondents to recover about RM270 million of 1MDB funds allegedly channelled to the respondents through former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s bank account.
She said the action was taken under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.