Court strikes out lawsuit by PI Bala’s family against Najib, Rosmah, others
(Malay Mail Online) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and seven others today successfully dismissed a RM1.9-million lawsuit by the family of late private investigator P. Balasubramaniam.
In allowing their application to strike out the suit, High Court judge Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim also ordered the family to pay RM2,000 in costs each to six of the nine respondents.
Balasubramaniam, who was popularly known as PI Bala, was previously embroiled in a controversy over his two conflicting statutory declarations on the high-profile 2006 murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.
When met outside the courtroom today, the lawyer acting for Bala’s family, Americk Sidhu, said his clients will appeal the decision.
On June 11, Bala’s wife, AS Selvi, and their three children sued Najib, Rosmah and seven others for allegedly forcing them to live in exile in India for almost five years.
The seven others sued are Najib’s brothers Datuk Mohd Nazim Abdul Razak and Datuk Ahmad Johari Abdul Razak; lawyer Tan Sri Cecil Abraham and his son, Sunil Abraham; commissioner of oaths Zainal Abidin Muhayat; lawyer Arunampalam Mariampillai; and businessman Deepak Jaikishan.
In June, Americk explained that his clients had filed the suit after the discovery of new evidence that appears to implicate all the nine individuals sued in perpetrating the alleged wrong against them.
Americk reportedly said his clients are claiming for damages to compensate their removal from Malaysia against their will on July 4, 2008, due to an alleged conspiracy by the nine defendants – including through alleged threats or inducements.
