Rina Harun In The Midst Of Settling RM2.3 Million Lawsuit Against Her By Parisian Company
The minister is facing possible bankruptcy after failing to pay for content purchased from the company almost a decade ago.
By May Vin Ang — 10 Sep 2020, 12:14 PM
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun will soon settle the RM2.3 million lawsuit filed against her by a French production company
According to The Star, Rina was to face a judgment debtor summons hearing by French company Sarl Novovision at the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday, 9 September.
However, she was unable to appear at the bankruptcy proceedings due to personal matters.
Instead, she was represented by lawyer Husain Mohd Razak who said the issue could be settled as soon as possible.
Husain told reporters at the court complex after the hearing that his client had issued several cheques to the company towards the settlement.
"She will discuss the amount agreed to by the company soon," he said.
Rina is facing possible bankruptcy after failing to pay for content purchased from Sarl Novovision between 2011 and 2013 through her now-defunct companies Eurofine (M), Fine Mobile Network, and Fine TV Network
New Straits Times reported that Rina and other company director, Ida Rahayu Md Noor, had entered into a guarantee agreement with the French company in May 2014 that they would personally and jointly undertake all liabilities of the companies.
However, the companies were closed down between December 2013 and August 2015.
Ida Rahayu also declared bankruptcy on 5 October 2015.
According to Malay Mail, after failing to settle the amount, the French company then filed a statement of claim against Rina on 8 November 2018 for USD553,795 (RM2.3 million) and that the full amount must be paid by 31 July 2019.
In April 2019, both parties then entered a consent judgement after the minister still failed to settle the disputed amount.
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun.
Image via Bernama/New Straits TimesThe judgment debtor summons hearing yesterday, 9 September, was issued by the court to compel Rina to provide information about her assets and how she can settle the judgment debt
Lawyer Mark Ho, who is representing Sarl Novovision, said Rina had proposed settlement terms with his client but he could not disclose the terms.
"I am sorry but I am not at liberty to reveal anything about it pending court proceedings," he said, as quoted by New Straits Times.
"However, today the minister has handed over cheques as an instalment payment and on that basis, the court granted a new date for the judgment debtor summons."
The court has fixed 22 October for another case hearing.
