KUALA LUMPUR: Former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim's family members and their company have applied to quash the government's RM16 million forfeiture application against them.
Counsel Datuk Prem Ramachandran who represented the family said they had submitted a letter of representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers two months ago.
A letter of representation is normally sent to the AGC by an accused either to reduce or drop the charge.
The government is applying to forfeit nearly RM16 million from the accounts belonging to Abdul Azeez's wife, children, and a shoplot owned by the company.
"The government has prepared a report but no meeting has been held.
"I am made to understand the AGC would discuss the matter within three weeks," he said during proceedings before High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin today.
Deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim also confirmed that they had received the notice (of representation).
Jamil then fixed Feb 8 for next mention.
In the forfeiture suit, the government named Khadijah Mohd Noor (Abdul Azeez's wife) and Abdul Azeez's children Mohamed Khairul Anwar, Mohamed Khairul Azman, Khaleeda Azwa, Khaleeda Azeera and Azeera Management Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd, a company owned by the family, as the respondents.
The government is seeking to forfeit money from the personal accounts of the family and the bank account of the company.
On Dec 18, 2020, the court dismissed the family's application to stay the forfeiture proceeding pending the disposal of the Baling MP's ongoing corruption case at the Sessions Court.
The Baling member of parliament is currently on trial for three counts of bribery involving RM5.2 million linked to road projects and nine counts of money laundering involving nearly RM140 million.
However, the trial has been postponed pending his appeal at the Court of Appeal to have the case against him struck out.