Khairuddin ends lawsuits

Action against Najib, Rosmah and Zahid withdrawn

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan has withdrawn his suit against businessman Low Taek Jho, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and 1Malaysia Development Bhd ( 1MDB) in his attempt to get Rosmah to return a jewellery set worth US$27.3mil (RM112.3mil).

Khairuddin also withdrew his suit against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his former deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over allegations of violating their oath of office in front of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in relation to the RM2.6bil fund that was allegedly transferred into Najib’s account.

Lawyer Yazid Mustaqim Roslan, who represented Najib and his wife Rosmah, said all parties agreed with the plaintiff ’s withdrawal on both lawsuits without costs.

“High Court judge Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim then struck out the suit,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Lawyer Damien Chan represented Khairuddin.

On Aug 16, 2016, Khairuddin filed the suit claiming that between June 2013 and March 2014, Low, or better known as Jho Low, through his agent, had bought the jewellery from New York jeweller Lorraine totalling US$27.3mil. He claimed the money was taken from 1MDB.

Khairuddin further contended that the jewellery, in the form of a pink diamond valued at US$23mil (RM94.6mil) and a necklace valued at US$4.3mil (RM17.7mil), was received as a gift by Rosmah in March 2014.

He sought a court order for Rosmah to return the jewellery to 1MDB and for Low to pay the amount of money allegedly taken from 1MDB, as well as damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

Meanwhile, in September last year, Khairuddin sued Najib and Dr Ahmad Zahid for allegedly violating their oath of office before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by misleading the public on the issue of RM2.6bil donation.

He sought a court declaration that Najib and Dr Ahmad Zahid had broken their oath of office under the Sixth Schedule of the Federal Constitution and therefore they were unfit to hold their positions in the government and the Cabinet.

Khairuddin claimed he has locus standi to start the suit in the name of public interest.