Police, govt to file application to strike out Umno's suit over RM116.7 mln

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the government will file an application to strike out a suit by Umno public officer Datuk Seri Abd Rauf Yusoh to reclaim RM116.7 million in various currencies that were seized by police from properties linked to former party president and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Federal counsel Mohammad Sallehuddin Md Ali, representing PDRM and the government, which were named defendants in the suit, said the application was made based on grounds of locus standi.

"The defendants will also apply for a stay of the proceedings before the coming case management, and the court set Nov 1 for further case management,” he told reporters after the case came up for mention before High Court deputy registrar Rumaizah Baharom.

Abd Rauf's lawyer, Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh, confirmed the matter and said the court also ordered the defendants to file their affidavits-in-reply and defence statements.

He said the plaintiff had also applied for disclosure of documents from Bukit Aman Commercial Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh (named the third defendant in the suit) on the seizure at Tower B, Pavilion Residences, Jalan Raja Chulan last May 17.

The documents requested included a copy of the police report that became the basis for the seizure of the money, copy of the list of money that was seized and their pictures, as well as a rough sketch of where the money was found.

The suit was filed last Sept 21 and the defendants named were Bukit Aman CCID officers, namely Deputy Director (Intelligence/Operation) SAC Datuk Mohd Sakri Arifin, ACP R. Rajagopal and Amar Singh, as well as the Inspector-General of Police and the government.

In the statement of claim, Abd Rauf claimed that the search and seizure conducted on May 17, 2018 were unlawful, a violation of the party's right, breach of statutory duty, abuse of power and public misfeasance as they were made without reasonable cause, malicious, reckless, negligent and intentionally caused losses to the party and tarnished its image.

He is seeking the return of RM116.7 million, as well as general, aggravated and exemplary damages. Bernama