Rayhar Travels objects to third-party notice in 1MDB forfeiture suit

Rayhar Travels Sdn Bhd became the first among 41 respondents in the 1MDB forfeiture suits to object to the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowing the gazetting of a notice for third parties with an interest in the matter.

The haj and umrah-focused travel agency’s counsel Md Yunos Shariff told judicial commissioner Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh that allowing the gazetting before hearing out the respondent would amount to an admission of wrongdoing on the said agency.

“Our main concern is that with the notice of motion (forfeiture suit) supported by affidavit and the court giving (allowing the application to gazette third party notice) without (allowing) the respondent to respond, amounts to admission of the exhibit that the respondent purportedly committed wrongdoing,” Yunos said.

DPP Nik Haslinie Hashim countered, saying that gazetting such a notice is only meant to allow third parties to come forward and state their purported interest in the property involved.

“The notice is only to allow third parties to come and record (their) claim and interest in the property. Therefore, the court can hear and determine (on any objection by the respondent) after the issuance of the notice.

“It (third party notice) is only to issue information to third parties,” Haslinie said.

Ahmad Shahrir then set Aug 1 to hear the prosecution’s application and determine whether the gazetting of the third party notice should be allowed.

Also came up for case management before the same court this morning were the 1MDB forfeiture suits against Kelantan Umno, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Yayasan Tun Hussein Onn, IPG Mediabrand Sdn Bhd, Akademi Pemuda, and Sim Sai Hoon.

Also known as Rita Sim, Sim is the director of the research firm Centre for Strategic Engagement Sdn Bhd.

(More to follow) - Mkini