The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court set June 9 to hear the testimony of Blanche O'Leary, wife of PPP president and Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister M Kayveas, who is contesting the "distress writ" issued against her legal firm for alleged failure to pay more than RM114,000 in rent.

Judge Mohamed Azman Husin set the date in chambers after meeting plaintiff SBL Travel Sdn Bhd's lawyers Gobind Singh Deo and Dhanaraj Vasudevan, and S Periasamy who acted for O'Leary.

Successful application

The court was supposed to hear the cross examination of O'Leary - who was seen in court today - o­n certain aspects of three affidavits which she had affirmed last year in her bid to contest the distress writ issued against her firm o­n May 7 last year.

A distress writ is issued by a landlord against a tenant who does not pay rent. It is a summary proceeding filed ex-parte and is usually granted without much dispute.

When met outside the court, Gobind told reporters that his client had successfully applied to question O'Leary o­n certain aspects of the affidavits dated May 10, June 5 and June 27 last year.

He said the amount involved in the case is a total of RM114,8000 for unpaid rent between March 2000 and February 2001 involving a shop lot at Jalan Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur which also housed the PPP headquarters.

It is understood that the defendant is disputing the amount owing to its former landlord.

On April 23 last year, Mohamad Azman issued the distress writ which was served by the plaintiff to the defendant (the legal firm) o­n May 7 last year.

Ordered to appear

The defendant then applied to set aside the writ and supported its application by the said affidavits, affirmed by O'Leary,

The plaintiff then filed an application for leave to cross examine O'Leary o­n certain aspects of the affidavits which was allowed by the court o­n Sept 24. Subsequently, the court ordered her to appear in court for the purpose of cross examination.

Unhappy with the decision. O'Leary appealed to the High Court but failed when it was struck out.

On March 27, Mohamad Azman heard part of her testimony before postponing the matter to today.