Fugitive businessman Soh Chee Wen today filed a civil suit for repayment of RM150 million against Dr Ling Liong Sik after the deadline of 14 days expired without any payment from Ling to a letter of demand issued by Soh recently.

Ho Seng Chuan, a senior employee of Soh who has been issued a power of attorney by Soh, was accompanied by a lawyer Krishnan Kumar, of Krish Maniam & Co, filed the suit this afternoon at the High Court's civil registry in Kuala Lumpur against Ling, who is also MCA chief and Transport Minister.

Malaysiakini learnt that the suit also named, besides Ling, his eldest son Hee Leong and wife Carol Ong Lee Choo.

The letter of demand dated June 13 said that Soh allowed six million Autoway Holdings shares which he owned to be sold by Rashid Hussain Securities for the benefit of Linksun Avenue, which is owned by Hee Leong and his wife ("[#1] Ling asked to pay back RM150 million 'debt'[/#] ", June 13).

"These monies received from the sale of our client's shares that was beneficially owned by him amounting to RM149,212,663.40 was used by Linksun Avenue to purchase 162,303,040 shares of Berjaya Industrial (now known as Rekapacific)," the notice said..

According to the lawyers, Soh informed them that "all the instructions, negotiations and/or agreements (both oral and written) were received from Ling Liong Sik who was acting as principal for his son, Ling Hee Leong and daughter-in-law, Carol Ong Lee Choo. Linksun Avenue was merely the vehicle utilised to acquire the shares in Berjaya Industrial Berhad (presently known as Rekapacific)."

The notice also stated that if the payment was not received within 14 days, the lawyers "have strict instructions from our client to commence the necessary legal action for the recovery of the same without further reference to you and you would be made liable for all costs and expenses incurred therein."

Ho, again acting on behalf of Soh, filed a second suit against Hee Leong to recover RM1,875,000 paid as advance in relation to a loan for RM15 million (in 1996) for intended purchase of shares in United Traders Securities by Rentak Wira.

Ho filed a third suit on Soh's behalf against Hee Leong together with two others seeking the repayment of RM1.3 million for intended acquisition of 23,850,000 shares of Amalgamated Containers Berhad (in 1996).

Soh is believed to be overseas, with a warrant issued by the Securities Commission last year for his arrest in conjunction with some fraud charges relating to share trading.

Last week, Ling acknowledged receiving the letter of demand and said that the matter is being handled by his lawyers.

Meanwhile, Amsteel Securities today filed a law suit in High Court against Hee Leong and Soh as first and second respondent respectively, demanding the repayment of about RM43 million from Rekapacific Bhd.

Soh is sued as a guarantor of Rekapacific while Hee Leong is deputy executive chairman of the company.

Amsteel Securities has applied for a summary judgement from the High Court, which will be made on July 13.