Court allows MACC to forfeit RM4.9m from Yayasan Permata

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today allowed the MACC to forfeit RM4.9 million from Yayasan Permata Malaysia in a 1MDB forfeiture suit.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah made the order when Dr Noraishah Spahat, a representative of Yayasan Genius (as Yayasan Permata is now known), raised no objection to the main forfeiture suit.

On June 21, the MACC filed civil forfeiture suits worth RM270 million against 41 local individuals and groups. Yayasan Permata is one of the respondents.

MACC chief Latheefa Koya had said that all money sought had been distributed to the respondents from former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's personal AmBank account.

KiniGuide: Who’s who in MACC's 1MDB civil forfeiture suit

Launched in 2011, Yayasan Permata came under the Prime Minister’s Office.  

The foundation has since been rebranded by the Pakatan Harapan government and transferred to the Education Ministry. 

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the court set Sept 10 to hear the forfeiture case involving former land and co-operative development minister Kasitah Gaddam.

This was as the judge was informed that no third party was present in court to claim the asset seized from Kasitah, despite publishing the gazette notice to summon third parties and a public notice being filed via e-filing on Aug 22.

It was reported that Kasitah, who was a minister from 1999 to 2004, was present in court but was not represented.

The prosecution also informed the court that third party gazette notice was published for seven other parties involved in the seizure. 

They are businessperson Bustari Yusof, Johor Umno communications division, Selangor Umno communications division, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Jakel Trading, Mediaedge Cia Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Yayasan Persatuan Bekas Anggota Kemas Malaysia (PBAKM).