Duta Enclave: Govt overcompensated Semantan Estate by up to RM500,000, says witness
A government witness testified in the High Court that the state overpaid Semantan Estate by up to RM500,000 for the acquisition of the Duta Enclave land in 1956. The testimony aims to argue against further compensation claims by the plaintiff.
Why it matters
This legal dispute over historical land acquisition and compensation has significant financial implications for the government and property rights precedents.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was told that the government had overpaid Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd (1952) between RM400,000 and RM500,000 to acquire 263.272 acres of land known as the Duta Enclave in 1956.
Finance Ministry Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) assistant director Tan Tat Khuan on Friday (Oct 16) said his assessment valued the land in Mukim Batu at RM875,000, compared with the RM1.39mil paid by the government.
"Deducting my valuation of RM875,000 from the RM1.39 million already paid shows that the government overpaid by between RM400,000 and RM500,000.
"If the court accepts my valuation, no additional compensation should be paid to the plaintiff (Semantan Estate)," he said.
Tan, the government's sole witness, was testifying during the compensation assessment hearing before judge Roslan Mat Nor.
Under further questioning by senior federal counsel Nurhafizza Azizan, Tan confirmed that his assessment showed the government had overpaid.
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