KUALA LUMPUR: The suit by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) against Saudi national Tarek Obaid who is the director of PetroSaudi International Ltd and PetroSaudi Holdings (Cayman) Ltd and other overseas banking firms will be heard before a new judge.
It was revealed during case management today that judicial commissioner Quay Chew Soon, who is currently presiding over the case, has been transferred to the Penang High Court. Thus, Quay will not be hearing the case.
The notice of transfer was issued by the Chief Judge of Malaya.
The case has been fixed for further case management on Feb 8, next year, by assistant registrar Syeela Marlina Uttaman.
In the previous case management on Oct 18, Quay had disclosed to parties that he had practised in Messrs Skrine before his appointment as a judicial commissioner in 2019.
Messrs Skrine had previously rendered advice to one of the defendants in the case which is Deutsche Bank in respect of the remittances to overseas banking firms Coutts & Co Ltd and JP Morgan Ltd.
However, Quay said he was not privy to the detailed advice as it was rendered by a different department in the law firm.
Quay had also directed for the lawyers to deliberate if there are any issues for him to hear the case and parties had for the record today, stated that they confirmed that there is no issue for Quay to hear the case.
The matter was confirmed by a counsel from Messrs Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership, when contacted, today.
On May 7, 1MDB filed the suit naming Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, Coutts & Co, J.P. Morgan (Switzerland), Petrosaudi International, Petrosaudi Holdings (Cayman), Tarek Obaid and Patrick Mahony as the defendants.
The plaintiff (1MDB) alleged that all the defendants were negligent, breached the contract and conspired to defraud 1MDB to the point of causing losses to the company as well as damaging 1MDB's reputation and good name.
