KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 1): Aman Palestin Bhd has taken the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to court for freezing the non-governmental organisation (NGO)’s bank accounts.
In their application for leave filed on Wednesday (Jan 31), Aman Palestin is seeking a court order to unfreeze all 11 of their accounts and for the freeze order issued last November under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) to be cancelled.
The non-profit organisation which channels humanitarian aid to Palestine, is also seeking an immediate release of RM11,026,215.60 (approximately RM11 million) for daily expenses, employee salaries, administration and operations cost, as well as its humanitarian work for the next three months.
In their application filed through Messrs Law Practice of Rafique, they are also seeking a declaration that they can continue to collect donations from the public and directly channel them to Palestinians impacted by the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
They are also seeking damages, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
According to court papers seen by The Edge, among reasons cited for the legal action was that MACC’s actions were illegal, unreasonable and irrational. They claim that the freeze order was illegal, as it did not comply with existing procedure.
The NGO claimed that investigations can still be carried out by the graft busters without the need to freeze the accounts, as Aman Palestin has always and will continue to cooperate with the MACC.
Besides the anti-graft agency, among the seven respondents named in the suit were MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki, its senior director of investigation Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim, its anti-money laundering division director Datuk Zamri Zainul Abidin, and the government.
In November last year, the MACC froze 41 bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin and several other companies involving more than RM15 million as part of an investigation into the NGO’s alleged misappropriation of RM70 million.
Azam said that freezing of the assets was done to facilitate investigations in accordance with Section 44 (1) of AMLA, which allows an enforcement agency to issue an order to freeze any property of any person, or any terrorist property.