PUTRAJAYA: The prosecution today withdrew its appeals to forfeit money totalling RM21.7 million belonging to 11 entities and individuals, including the Pekan Umno division and the Johor Umno Liaison Committee, allegedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (IMDB) funds.
The other entities and individuals are Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, Jakel Trading, Johor Baru Barisan Nasional, Mediaedge CIA Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sarawak United People's Party, Strategic Engagement Media Sdn Bhd (CENSE Media) director Sim Sai Hoon, AGA Touch Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Yayasan Persatuan Bekas Anggota Kemas Malaysia (Yayasan PBAKM) and former land and cooperative development minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam.
Deputy public prosecutor Kamal Bahrin Omar notified the Court of Appeal's three-member bench today that the prosecution had withdrawn its appeals against the 11 respondents.
The notice of discontinuance of the appeals was filed on Friday.
Kamal Bahrin also told the court that the seized money would be returned to the respondents.
Justice Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said, who presided with justices Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Datuk Supang Lian, then struck out the appeals.
The prosecution was unsuccessful at 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 Liaison Committee and RM957,395.65 from Johor Baru Barisan Nasional.
A separate High Court had also dismissed the prosecution's appeal to forfeit RM100,000 from Kasitah, RM3 million belonging to IT firm AGA Touch (M) Sdn Bhd, RM41,261.64 from Sim, RM188,138.26 from Sarawak United People's Party and RM4,631,602 from Mediaedge CIA.
Meanwhile, the court fixed March 28 to hear the appeals brought by the Pahang MCA Liaison Committee, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and the family of the late Paya Besar member of parliament and Umno division head Datuk Seri Abdul Manan Ismail.
This is to allow them to file their respective representations to the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) following the prosecution's decision to withdraw its appeals for the 11 cases.
Kamaludin, chairing the bench, said there must be consistency as the prosecution had withdrawn its appeal for the 11 cases.
He suggested that counsels for the three cases submit their representations to the A-GC.
He then ordered the three parties to go for case management.
Case management was subsequently conducted before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Muhammad Noor Firdaus Rosli, who set March 28 for the hearing for the three appeals. He gave the parties until Feb 10 to submit their representations to the A-GC.
Three separate High Courts had allowed the prosecution's application to forfeit money totalling RM2.1 million from the Pahang MCA Liaison Committee, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and Abdul Manan's family.
The 14 cases today are among 41 entities and individuals from which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission sought to recover assets said to have been paid for using 1MDB funds.