Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan allowed the forfeiture after he was informed by deputy public prosecutor Syafinas Shabudin that no third parties had come forward to claim the money after a federal government gazette (notice to third parties) was published on March 11 by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Speaking to reporters, Syafinas said third parties were given 10 days’ notice to claim the assets, but no one had come forward.

According to a report in The Edge, Hock Peng did not appoint legal counsel to represent him.

Hock Peng, along with his wife, Goh Gaik Ewe, left Malaysia after the change of government in May 2018.

It is understood that the cash is in seven different bank accounts, which include the RHB branch at KLCC and the Maybank Plaza MWE branch in Penang.

It was previously reported that Hock Peng had kept the funds in current and fixed deposit accounts which were the subject of the forfeiture proceedings because of Jho Low’s implication in the 1MDB scandal.

“We believe that the monies were transferred from foreign companies by Jho Low,” a source had told the financial news outlet on condition of anonymity last year.

The government’s application for civil forfeiture was under Section 56 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which allows it to forfeit property without prosecution.