A three-judge panel – comprising Justices Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Zaini Mazlan and Azmi Ariffin – dismissed the appeals by Latif and his co-appellants, ruling that their filing had no merit.
The co-appellants were Latif’s son Ahmad Fauzan Hatim and daughter-in-law Nur Shaliza Mohamad Salleh, two companies – Wash N Chill Enterprise, Alaf Pentawaris Sdn Bhd, real estate consultant Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, Mazita Mahmod and Hartini Jalani.
In delivering the court’s decision, Zaidi said the appellants had failed to prove that the High Court erred in its findings on the issues raised by their lawyers.
On May 27, 2019, the sessions court dismissed the prosecution’s forfeiture application and ordered that the seized properties to be returned to the owners.
Then on Dec 19, 2021, the High Court overturned this decision, finding that the prosecution had proven that all the properties involved was obtained from illegal proceeds.
Authorities seized 20 luxury vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz G63 AMG, Bentley Continental GT Coupe, Land Rover Sport, Nissan Skyline, Toyota Vellfire, Honda HRV and a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Other valuables included 36 branded watches, 32 branded handbags, 14 items of jewellery and cash in Malaysian, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Korean and Japanese currencies.
In another case, Latif, his son and Amir Shariffuddin were acquitted by the Johor Bahru sessions court in 2022 on corruption and money laundering charges. This ruling was upheld by the High Court last year.
The prosecution dropped its appeal against Latif’s acquittal, but the case against Fauzan and Amir Shariffuddin continues.
In today’s proceedings, the appellants were represented by lawyer Siti Sarah Khalil while deputy public prosecutor Norzilati Izhani Zainal Zainol appeared for the prosecution. - FMT
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