Umno's bid to strike out SRC International suit dismissed
SRC International Sdn Bhd’s civil action against Umno over allegedly receiving RM16 million from the company remains before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
This followed on the heels of judge Quay Chew Soon today dismissing the political party’s application to strike out the lawsuit by the former subsidiary of 1MDB....
SRC International Sdn Bhd’s civil action against Umno over allegedly receiving RM16 million from the company remains before the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
This followed on the heels of judge Quay Chew Soon today dismissing the political party’s application to strike out the lawsuit by the former subsidiary of 1MDB.
The outcome was confirmed by SRC International's counsel Rosli Dahlan when contacted.
Today was set for hearing on Umno’s bid to strike out the legal action by SRC International and two other plaintiffs, namely Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd and Jendela Pinggiran Sdn Bhd.
At present, 1MDB and SRC International have filed 22 civil actions against various personalities and entities for allegedly defrauding them, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
The suit against Umno is part of these numerous legal actions.
'There are triable issues'
Rosli explained that besides dismissing Umno’s striking-out application, Quay also allowed the plaintiffs’ application to amend their suit’s statement of claim to name the political party’s public officer.
Previously, the suit listed Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and its secretary-general Ahmad Maslan as officer bearers. However, today’s outcome has substituted this with Mohd Sumali Reduan as the office bearer listed in the suit.
“Upon hearing submissions, the court dismissed the defendant’s (Umno’s) striking-out application and allowed the plaintiffs’ amendment application.
“The grounds were that an amendment to accurately name parties should be allowed and earlier inaccuracy in not naming the public officer can be cured by way of amendment and is not attributable to the plaintiffs, and that the plaintiffs’ claim is not obviously unsustainable to warrant a striking out.
“There are triable issues which can only be determined during the trial,” Rosli said in explaining the judge’s ruling, adding that the court also set costs in the cause.
Costs in the cause mean that a court order for payment of legal costs would usually be made in favour of the party that is ultimately successful at the end of the hearing of the civil action.
Meanwhile, Umno’s lawyer Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman confirmed the outcome of the proceedings.
He added that the court also allowed the political party’s application for interim stay on it filing its statement of defence, pending disposal of its appeal to the Court of Appeal against today’s verdict.
Counsel Syafinaz Vani and Clarence Hng Ying Hui represented the plaintiffs during today's online proceedings, while Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff appeared for Umno.
