PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his son Datuk Nazifuddin succeeded in getting the court to stay the decision which compelled them to pay RM1.69 billion and RM37.6 billion in unpaid taxes and penalties respectively.

This after the Federal Court today allowed the duo's application for a stay of the High Court's ruling pending their appeal at the Apex Court.

A three-member bench chaired by the Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat made the ruling after there was no objection from the government represented by the Inland Board Revenue's senior federal counsel Al Hummidallah Idrus.

The former prime minister and his son were represented by counsel Muhammad Farhan Shafee. 

On July 22, 2020, the High Court allowed the IRB's application for a summary judgement to be entered against Najib in its suit to recover RM1.69 billion in taxes from the latter for the period between 2011 and 2017.

Meanwhile, on July 6 the same year, another High Court also ordered Nazifuddin, 39, to pay RM37,644,810.73 in unpaid taxes to the IRB.

This was after a summary judgment order was entered in the IRB's tax arrears suit seeking to recoup the unpaid amount from Nazifuddin between 2011 and 2017.

Subsequently, they filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the court's decision.

However, on Sept 9 last year, a three-man Court of Appeal bench unanimously dismissed Najib and Nazifuddin's appeal to quash the High Court's summary judgement against them.

The government, through IRB, filed the suit against Najib and Nazifuddin on June 25, 2019 and July 24, 2020, respectively.

On Feb 4 last year, the board issued bankruptcy notices against the Pekan member of parliament and his son following their failure to pay the sums. 

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2022/09/833066/court-grants-stay-najib-son-tax-bill-suit