KUALA LUMPUR (April 10): Businessman Victor Chin Boon Long has asked the court to allow him to give testimony in a 2023 civil case via Zoom, saying he is currently overseas and fears for his safety if he returns to Malaysia.
According to two letters his lawyers sent to the High Court, the businessman is at an undisclosed location and fears he would be harmed if he returned due to the “corporate mafia” scandal.
“The first defendant is currently not in Malaysia, after leaving the jurisdiction over serious concerns for his personal safety.
“This fear was caused by wide media coverage and accusations that were made publicly against him, which has placed him in a reasonable fear of harm should he return for the time being,” read a letter filed by law firm KH Wong & Co on April 8.
Former directors of MMAG Holdings Bhd’s (KL:MMAG) 80%-owned cargo subsidiary M Jets Sdn Bhd, Gunasekar Mariappan and Philip Phang, filed a RM49.85 million counter-suit in July 2023 against MMAG and several others, including Chin, alleging conspiracy over the group’s attempted takeover of M Jets. The dispute began after they were suspended in February 2023 following a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe and raid on M Jets’ office, and later removed from their roles. MMAG subsequently sued them in April for alleged breach of fiduciary duties, seeking RM23.17 million in damages.
Chin’s lawyers said that he disputes the allegations against him and that he is a victim.
“Victor Chin asserts that he not only disputes the allegations made against him but also maintains that he is a victim of broader corporate misconduct, which is currently the subject of public scrutiny and investigation,” he said.
The letter added that his absence from Malaysia is not intended to evade the proceedings, but rather a temporary measure taken in good faith for his safety.
His lawyers affirmed that Chin remains committed to joining the proceedings and complying with court orders.
“He remains committed to participating in all court proceedings and complying with all directions of this Honourable Court. In this regard, he is ready and able to attend the trial virtually, ensuring that the proceedings may continue without unnecessary delay.”
To support the application, the legal firm, in a second letter on Thursday, attached a police report that was filed on behalf of Chin and two others.
The report stated that Chin feared for his safety due to a civil suit he recently filed against Bestinet Sdn Bhd founder Aminul Islam Abdul Nor and lawyer N Sandraruben, in which he alleged that Aminul is the ‘real corporate mafia’.
In response to Chin’s letter, Gunasekar and Phang’s lawyer filed a letter to state their “objection in the strongest terms”.
Lawyer Kang Zhen Leong of Alvin Tang Law Office argued that the defendant is able to travel back to Malaysia and accused him of trying to evade the authorities.
“It is also clear that the first defendant was trying to avoid returning to Malaysia to avoid being arrested by the police and face criminal charges connected to his involvement in a money laundering syndicate and also a syndicate called the ‘corporate mafia’.
“Thus, if this application by the first defendant is allowed by this honourable court, it is akin to condoning his attempt to evade authorities,” Kang said in the letter.
Chin came under the spotlight after a Bloomberg report alleged that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was being used by a group of businessmen dubbed the “corporate mafia” to take over listed companies. He later issued statements on the group, denying any involvement and saying he is instead a victim of it.
His most recent action was to file a civil suit against Aminul and Sandraruben for allegedly working with enforcement authorities to pressure him to resign from NexG Bhd (KL:NEXG) and hand control of the company to them, while also trying to frame him as the head of a “corporate mafia”.
Chin, along with substantial shareholders Skyelimit Alliance Sdn Bhd and Trendtrove Tradin Sdn Bhd, is now seeking damages for alleged conspiracy, intimidation, fraudulent misrepresentation, and related losses.