KUALA LUMPUR: Petra Group chairman Datuk Vinod Sekhar is being sued by 12 of his investors and former employees for alleged fraud.
Messrs Goh Wong Pereira, in a statement today, said Vinod's wife Winy Yeap Liew Heoh was also named as a defendant.
"Vinod, one of the country's high-profile businessmen, was sued for alleged fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract and an acknowledgement of debt.
"The plaintiffs, who are from across the globe including the United States, Panama, the United Kingdom, Dubai and Thailand, allege that Vinod persuaded them to invest in his Green Rubber business, despite not informing them of his status as a bankrupt at the material times.
"The plaintiffs are seeking just under RM30 million, inclusive of interest," read the statement.
According to the statement, the plaintiffs alleged that Vinod had provided reassurances that one "Anwar", understood to be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, would resolve any issue relating to the businessman's status as a bankrupt at the material times.
The statement added that the plaintiffs want each individual named in the legal action to appear in person to testify in the High Court hearing, which may possibly include Anwar.
"In December, last year, Vinod applied for a publicity injunction to prevent the plaintiffs from discussing the case in public, which was thrown out by the High Court.
"A parallel motion to get the action dismissed was also thrown out, removing the last obstacle that might have prevented the case going for full trial at the High Court.
"The plaintiffs decided to launch the legal action after it emerged that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had opened a money-laundering and tax evasion investigation into Vinod's affairs in November 2021.
"The decision was also taken after reports in February 2022 that Vinod has sold Chinese-made ventilators to the Hungarian government at many times (over) the market price during the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic," the statement read.