Today’s court hearing of the government’s civil suit to forfeit nearly RM16 million from the family of Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has been vacated.
This followed on the heels of the family’s legal team having sent a letter of representation to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) over the civil forfeiture action against them.
Under the law, a letter of representation is a mode whereby a party seeks for alternate ways to resolve a matter, such as a proposal for withdrawal of a civil action among others.
Today was initially fixed for hearing of the forfeiture civil action against Azeez’s wife Khadijah Mohd Noor; the couple’s children Mohamed Khairul Azman, Mohamed Khairul Anwar, Khaleeda Azeera and Khaleeda Azwa; and a company named Azeera Management Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning allowed the postponement application from the family’s legal team, following being informed about the letter of representation.
During open-court proceedings before judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin, the family’s lawyer Prem Ramachandran informed that the letter of representation to the AGC on Nov 16 last year.
“There was a letter of representation issued (to the AGC) in light of the latest developments in the case.
“They have prepared a report and (the letter of representation was) submitted to higher management (AGC) for consideration on Nov 16 last year,” Prem said.
The lawyer said that due to the letter of representation having already been issued, then today’s initially scheduled hearing of the forfeiture suit ought to be vacated, pending the AGC’s decision on the representation.
Deputy public prosecutor Nik Haslinie Hashim then confirmed to the court that the prosecution has received the letter of representation and that it has been brought to the attention of the head of prosecution for further directions.
She explained that following the receiving of the letter of representation, the investigating officer would need to conduct further investigation.
Nik Haslinie then proposed a mention date to update on what decision the AGC would make over the representation.
Jamil then allowed the application to postpone today’s hearing and fixed Feb 8 for mention to update the court over the outcome of the letter of representation.
Incidentally, at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, Azeez has an ongoing criminal case related to road projects in Perak and Kedah.
He was charged with three counts of allegedly receiving bribes totalling RM5.2 million involving the projects in the two states, and nine counts of money laundering involving more than RM140 million.
However, the criminal trial is currently postponed, pending Azeez’s appeal at the Court of Appeal to quash the graft charges. -Mkini
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