KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was allowed by the High Court here to deliver the writ of summons involving a sum of US$3.7837bil to the elder sister of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, with the latter currently in Singapore.
The writ is to be delivered through an advertisement in the island republic’s newspaper, The Straits Times.
Counsel Siva Kumar Kanagasabai, representing 1MDB, said judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz allowed the appeal against the decision of assistant senior registrar Haslinda A. Raof, on Oct 13, of rejecting the company’s request for a substituted service order delivery to Low May Lin.
“The registrar’s decision is set aside and the application for the substituted service order delivery allowed,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.
The woman’s last known address was in Singapore and the two attempts to personally deliver the writ of summons failed after sending the letter seeking an appointment with her, he said.
“Since a personal delivery is not practical, we’ve asked for a substituted service delivery in line with the power of the court under the Rules of Court 2012,” said the lawyer, adding that the next case management would be on Friday.
Siva Kumar said the same writ of summons had been delivered to Jho Low’s younger brother, Taek Szen, based on his last-known address in Hong Kong, and also to Jho Low, their father Tan Sri Larry Low Hock Peng, mother Puan Sri Goh Gaik Ewe and Jho Low’s associate Eric Tan Kim Loong.
On May 7, 2021, 1MDB and its four subsidiaries – 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited and Global Diversified Investment Company Limited, formerly known as 1MDB Global Investments Limited – filed summonses against the six defendants.
Based on the writs, 1MDB is claiming US$661mil from Jho Low and US$41mil, US$397mil, US$608mil and US$1.9bil, respectively, from Jho Low and Tan, and US$325mil from Jho Low and his father.
Meanwhile, 1MDB Global Investments Limited is demanding US$630mil from Hock Peng, Jho Low and Tan, and US$2mil from Taek Szen, Jho Low and Tan.
The plaintiffs are also claiming US$3.5mil from May Lin and Jho Low; US$1.695mil from Goh, Jho Low and Tan over the purchase of jewellery and undeclared profits; and US$25.5mil from Jho Low, Tan, Hock Peng and Taek Szen.
