Umno files suit to reclaim RM116.7m seized in raids
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has filed an application to the High Court here for the return of RM116.7 million it claims belongs to the party from police, which had seized the cash from residences connected to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Lawyer Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh said a statement of claim was filed, upon instructions from his client, on Sept 20 while a writ was produced the following day.
Hariharan, Umno’s legal representative from Messrs Scivetti & Associates, said the writ was served on several respondents.
He said Umno’s Datuk Seri Abd Rauf Yusoh was named the plaintiff in the case.
Documents sighted by the New Straits Times Press named federal police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) deputy director (intelligence and operations) Datuk Mohd Sakri Arifin, CCID Assistant Superintendent R. Rajagopal, CCID director Datuk Seri Amar Singh, the inspector-general of police, and the government as respondents.
High Court deputy registrar Rumaizah Baharom set Oct 15 for case management.
Based on the statement of claim, Umno is seeking a declaration that the search and seizure on May 17 was wrongfully conducted under the law. Umno is also seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages.
The plaintiff alleged that even though Umno had sought the return of the cash prior to filing the suit, the respondents had failed and were not willing to do so.
As a result of the respondents’ actions, the plaintiff claimed that Umno lost its right to use the funds and had incurred losses.
Rauf alleged that Umno gave its president the power to obtain resources and manage its funds for various purposes, including for general elections.
The plaintiff claimed that the election funds were held solely by the Umno president, and no other officer or member of the party had access nor full knowledge regarding the fund.
All election funds, he claimed, were handed down from one president to the next.
Rauf claimed that a strongroom was built at the prime minister’s official residence at Seri Perdana for the purpose of holding such funds. After Barisan Nasional’s defeat in the 14th General Election, the funds were moved to an apartment in Pavilion Residences in, from which the money had been seized by police.