HRDF withdraws lawsuit over alleged fraud of RM26.4m
The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) has withdrawn its lawsuit over alleged fraud involving RM26.4 million in funds paid for training courses for retrenched workers.
Lawyer Eric Clement today confirmed that the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 18 allowed the plaintiff’s application to retract the legal action against four defendants.
The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) has withdrawn its lawsuit over alleged fraud involving RM26.4 million in funds paid for training courses for retrenched workers.
Lawyer Eric Clement today confirmed that the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 18 allowed the plaintiff’s application to retract the legal action against four defendants.
“Yes, the suit was withdrawn on June 18 before the court.
“Basically, the plaintiff’s suit has been struck off on June 18. The plaintiff had applied to withdraw the suit,” Clement said when contacted by Malaysiakini this afternoon.
Clement acted for Smart Trends International Sdn Bhd and its director Emmanuel Benson Abdullah, the first and second defendants named in the suit.
HRDF’s former CEO CM Vignaesvaran (below) and its former chief special purpose vehicle officer Muhammad Ghazali Abdul Aziz, are the third and fourth defendants named in the suit that was filed on March 23.
According to a copy of a letter from law firm Messrs Abd Halim Ushah & Associates to the High Court dated June 18, reference was made to the withdrawal of the legal action on that same day.
“We also found that the plaintiff’s application to withdraw the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim, with the liberty to file afresh, was allowed by the court,” the letter said.
Messrs Abd Halim Ushah & Associates acted for Smart Trends International and Emmanuel Benson.
According to the online cause list at ecourtservices.kehakiman.gov.my, June 18 was set as case management of the suit before the Kuala Lumpur High Court Registry.
In the June 18 letter, Messrs Abd Halim Ushah & Partners also made reference to an earlier letter from the HRDF’s legal team to them dated June 15, in which the fund’s law firm mentioned the suit-withdrawal.
HRDF was represented by Messrs Swan & Partners.
According to the June 15 letter, HRDF’s solicitors informed about their client’s instruction to withdraw the legal action.
“We have our client’s instructions to withdraw the above matter with the liberty to file afresh,” the letter said in reference to the suit.
According to a follow-up letter from the court to Messrs Abd Halim Ushah & Associates dated June 30, the court confirmed that its decision to allow the withdrawal is final, among others.
None of the above June correspondence mentioned the reason for the HRDF’s withdrawal of the legal action.
Malaysiakini is still trying to reach out to HRDF’s lawyer over the matter.
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