Sri Ram appears in Federal Court as counsel in court dispute over award

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PUTRAJAYA: Retired Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram made his first appearance in the apex court yesterday as counsel for a company involved in a court dispute over an arbitration award.

Sri Ram, 69, who retired from the Federal Court in February 2010, appeared and submitted on behalf of the company, MTM Millenium Holdings Sdn Bhd, before the five-member bench comprising his peers.

Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum led the bench that also comprised Federal Court judges Datuk Hashim Yusoff, Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar, Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha.

Lawyers who were in the court for other legal matters took the opportunity to see Sri Ram in action as counsel. When the hearing of the case ended, some lawyers and chambering students were seen taking photographs with Sri Ram outside the court.

When approached by the media, Sri Ram declined to comment on his appearance in court.

MTM Millenium Holdings Sdn Bhd is seeking leave from the Federal Court to appeal against a Court of Appeal’s decision on July 5, this year in granting a conditional stay to the company.

Pasukhas Constructions Sdn Bhd and I-Innovations Construction Sdn Bhd have obtained an arbitration award of RM4.8 million against MTM Millenium on May 28, last year over progressive payment for works completed relating to a construction project in Cherating, Pahang.

MTM Millenium did not succeed in its bid at the High Court and Court of Appeal to set aside the arbitration award.

Pending hearing of their application for leave to appeal to the Federal Court, MTM Millenium applied to the Court of Appeal to stay the enforcement of the arbitration award, but the Court of Appeal granted a conditional stay on condition that MTM Millenium deposit the sum of the arbitration award into a joint-solicitors account within two weeks. — Bernama