Court dismisses Plaintiffs’ suit

The High Court yesterday dismissed the Originating Summons brought by the 7 Plaintiffs against Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam (PG) and the Board of Deacons of Calvary Church.

In delivering his judgment, the learned judge remarked that whilst he empathized with the Plaintiffs over the impropriety in the affairs of Calvary Church and the questionable movement of church funds to PG’s personal ministry account, he nevertheless, has to dismiss the Originating Summons on the grounds that the Plaintiffs have not fully exhausted all the remedies provided in the Church Constitution. Until those remedies have been exhausted, it is pre-mature to bring the matter before the Court.


Among the remedies available, the learned judge pointed out that the Plaintiffs should have requisitioned for a special EGM to petition for the intervention of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia to resolve the problems in Calvary Church.


CT was told that PG’s lawyer requested for legal costs of RM100,000 but the Judge awarded costs of only RM7,000 to them.


PG’s lawyer, Tan Sri Cecil Abraham of Zul Rafique & Partners is a well-known and well-connected figure in the legal fraternity and his services does not come cheap. He also used to be very active in the freemason movement in his earlier years and was involved as legal counsel in a much publicized legal dispute between fellow freemasons many years ago.


Although the Plaintiffs’ suit against PG and the Deacons are personal, it is almost certain that PG will dip his hands into the Church coffers to pay the expected high legal fees charged by Tan Sri Cecil. PG had already hinted that in one of the Friday prayer meetings sometime ago.

CT was informed by one of the Plaintiffs that they will not be filing an appeal against the dismissal of their suit.





Coming soon : CCC cost escalates further