![[UPDATED]: High Court declares Jovian bankrupt after loan dispute](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2F030725nstJovian01_1751529447.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
[UPDATED]: High Court declares Jovian bankrupt after loan dispute
Senior assistant registrar Muhammad Faisal Zulkifli made the ruling during proceedings today after allowing a creditor's petition filed by Cekap Air Sdn Bhd on Nov 20 last year.
According to the petition, Jovian, the former son-in-law of former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, had committed an act of bankruptcy within six months prior to the filing of the petition by failing to comply with a bankruptcy notice dated May 21, 2023.
The petition said that Jovian owed Cekap Air RM5,284,340.66, inclusive of interest as of May 21 last year, which was the sum payable under a summary judgment granted by the High Court on April 2, 2023.
Cekap Air's lawyer, Siti Nur Athirazatti Rohizad, said the bankruptcy notice was filed after Jovian failed to comply with the terms of the summary judgment.
A summary judgment is a legal application filed by the plaintiff to obtain a court order without the need for a full trial.
She said that upon receiving leave to issue the bankruptcy notice, her client filed the creditor's petition, which the court allowed today.
"Jovian had filed applications to set aside and stay the bankruptcy notice and the creditor's petition, but all were dismissed by the court," she said.
On April 2 last year, the High Court ordered Jovian to repay RM5 million to Cekap Air after allowing the company's summary judgment application.
On May 16, 2023, the company filed a lawsuit against Jovian, alleging that he had failed to repay a RM5 million loan extended on a friendly basis.
In its statement of claim, Cekap Air said Jovian was an acquaintance of its director, Yong Zhen Wei.
The company claimed it loaned RM5 million to Jovian following a verbal request by the designer on Feb 25, 2022, and subsequently transferred the amount into the client account of a law firm representing him.
Cekap Air added that the law firm had confirmed receipt of the funds on Jovian's instruction.
Jovian's appeal against the summary judgment in the main suit is scheduled to be heard on Sept 15.
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