Felda to pay RM11 million to 354 settlers
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has to pay
RM11 million in damages to 354 settlers after the agency's final bid to
appeal against the payment order was refused by the Federal Court here
today.
The Federal Court dismissed Felda's application to review its own
decision on Jan 19 which denied Felda the leave to appeal against the
Kota Baru High Court's decision ordering the agency to pay RM7.8 million
in damages and interest to the settlers.
A three-man panel led by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin
Mohd Sherif unanimously rejected Felda's application for a review of the
Federal Court's decision.
The two other judges were Federal Court judges Datuk Hashim Yusoff and Datuk Seri Md Raus Sharif.
The panel held that it could not entertain the application because
the Federal Court had no jurisdiction to review its earlier decision.
The court also ordered Felda to pay RM20,000 in legal costs.
The High Court had ordered the agency to pay RM7.8 million plus
interest to the settlers after its counsel failed to turn up for the
hearing of the suit filed by the settlers, and decided in their favour
after accepting the evidence of witnesses.
The amount has since increased to RM11 million with accumulated
interest, with each settler expected to be paid RM30,000 in damages.
The settlers sued Felda in 2002 seeking between RM20,000 and
RM30,000 each in general damages, claiming that the agency had
understated the quality of their oil palm fruits during the period from
1996 to 2002 which caused them to suffer losses.
They named Felda, Felda Kemahang 3 manager Ibrahim Ismail (now deceased) and Felda Palm Industries Sdn Bhd as defendants.
In their writ, the settlers claimed that they discovered fraud and
conspiracy in the transactions of the palm oil fruits in September 2001.
About 100 settlers packed the Palace of Justice here today.
The settlers were represented by a team of lawyers led by Wan Rohimi
Wan Daud while Felda was represented by Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin.
-- BERNAMA
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