The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today allowed an application by Hong Leong Finance Bhd (HLFB) and its chairperson Quek Leng Chan to set aside the subpoenas issued to Quek and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail made the ruling after hearing submissions from Andrew Chiew representing HLFB, Dr Cyrus Das for Quek and D Paramalinggam for businessman Low Thiam Hoe.

Hadhariah awarded RM5,000 in costs each to HLFB and Quek.

She said that Quek and Anwar were not material witnesses and could not help establish evidence for the case.

In her judgment Hadhariah also said that the application by Low to call in both of them as witnesses was “oppressive and mala fide”.

“Only the names (of Quek and Anwar) were mentioned but not their roles, so what is the relevancy?” she said.

Hadhariah also said that prior to this, she had already dismissed an application by Low to amend his defence statement to include their (Quek’s and Anwar’s) names.

HLFB and Quek filed the application to side aside the writ of subpoena on March 23.

In 1998, HLFB filed the suit against Low for failure to repay a RM28 million loan to the bank.

The following year, Low filed a counter-claim against HLFB, HLG Capital Markets Sdn Bhd and Seow Lun Hoo, who was Hong Leong Credit Berhad’s former chief executive officer, seeking general damages for wrongful and negligent advice.

The hearing continues on April 12.

- Bernama