Last week, it was reported that SPNB Aspirasi, a wholly owned unit of national housing development company Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd, had commenced a lawsuit against its former CEO and 11 others alleging fraud and conspiracy to defraud among the defendants.
The defendants named in the suit include property developers Tunas Manja Development & Construction Sdn Bhd and Wiradani Development Sdn Bhd, architect Cheah Kah Lip and his architectural firm Akitek Akiprima Sdn Bhd, and lawyer Leong Yeng Kit.
In separate statements issued yesterday, Tunas Manja, Wiradani, Akitek Akiprima, Cheah and Leong requested that the media and the public “appreciate the importance of allowing the judicial system to carry out its work without undue influence”.
They said these news reports had “falsely implicated and accused (us) of being involved in fraudulent activities and/or audacious (and) fictitious conspiracies to purportedly defraud SPNB Aspirasi”.
They also said separate winding-up petitions had been brought by Tunas Manja and Wiradani against SPNB Aspirasi for alleged non-payment of undisclosed debts arising from certified interim payment certificates issued to SPNB Aspirasi following arbitration proceedings.
The certificates were said to have been issued in accordance with a development agreement and a supplementary development agreement entered between SPNB Aspirasi and Tunas Manja and Wiradani, respectively.
The agreements required Tunas Manja and Wiradani to purchase land and act as turnkey contractors for the construction of several housing projects in various parts of the country.
According to the statements, SPNB Aspirasi challenged both arbitration awards in the High Court but failed.
The defendants said the filing of the present action was an attempt by SPNB Aspirasi to “relitigate matters that have already been decided”, both at arbitration and in the courts.
Wiradani’s winding-up petition is set to be heard next week, while Tunas Manja’s is scheduled for hearing next month, after applications by SPNB Aspirasi to stay proceedings were dismissed by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, in their own joint statement, Akitek Akiprima, Cheah and Leong said they were respectively appointed by Tunas Manja as architect and lawyer for the development project.
“The appointment of consultants for the development project was made by us without any objections by SPNB Aspirasi despite SPNB Aspirasi being aware of every transaction,” the statement read.
They also claimed that media reports accusing them of fraudulent conduct had tarnished their reputation and business “severely and gravely”.