High Court says former Umno member’s suit against Najib stays

(Bernama) – The High Court here has suspended an application by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to strike out a former Umno member’s suit against him over the RM2.6 billion donation issue.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab made the ruling today after allowing ex-Umno member Anina Saadudin’s application for the suspension.

The judge found that the case is related to another suit filed by Anina against Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Umno executive secretary Datuk Ab Rauf pertaining to her expulsion from the party.

“The applicant (Anina) has another application in the High Court, and it is clear both cases are linked with each other. The decision in that case will affect this case,” held Mohd Zaki.

He has set Dec 15 for case management of Najib’s application to strike out Anina’s suit against him.

Anina sued Najib and Ab Rauf on Aug 28 seeking among others, to claim a portion of the RM2.6 billion (US$650 million) donation alleged to have been deposited by the party president into his personal bank account in Singapore.

Meanwhile outside the court, the plaintiff’s lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla told reporters that the expulsion case to be heard before Judicial Commissioner S. Nantha Balan has been fixed for Nov 30.

Anina filed the lawsuit to challenge her expulsion, on Sept 11.