UMNO has filed a leave application to commence contempt proceedings against CIMB Group Holdings Bhd over the latter’s refusal to return RM192 mil to the political party, reports Malaysiakini.
Umno’s lead counsel Hariharan Tara Singh told the news portal that the party had filed the application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Registry last month.
“(It is) Umno’s application for leave to cite CIMB Bank for contempt for refusing to comply with (Kuala Lumpur High Court judge) Justice (Mohamed) Zaini’s (Mazlan) earlier order to release the sum of RM192 mil from Umno’s account at CIMB Bank,” Hariharan was quoted as saying.
The High Court on June 19 denied the prosecution’s application to temporarily stay the release of RM192 mil to Umno, pending a related appeal.
The prosecution’s appeal at the Court of Appeal is in relation to the High Court’s Feb 7 decision to dismiss the suits to forfeit a total of RM194 mil in funds allegedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) from Umno and three others.
The forfeiture suit against Umno alone was to recover the RM192 mil in funds allegedly from 1MDB.
The prosecution’s appeal at the Court of Appeal (against the Feb 7 High Court decision) is set for hearing on Aug 25 while Umno’s contempt bid is set for further case management on Monday.
Meanwhile, CIMB’s counsel Rabindra Nathan informed the court that the bank had filed a separate application for clarification on whether it could release the RM192 mil to Umno.
Rabindra was quoted as saying that CIMB was “quite happy to release the money” but due to the appeal lodged with the Court of Appeal, the bank expressed concern over the legal repercussions of releasing the money. – July 2, 2020
