Johor Baru City Council applies to transfer vape case

KUALA LUMPUR: The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) had applied to the High Court here to transfer to Johor Baru the legal suit brought by vape traders against raids and seizures of vape products last December.
High Court Judge Datuk John Louis O'hara fixed March 28 for mention in chambers.
Lawyer Fadhil Ihsan, representing MBJB, said the application to transfer the case from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru was made on the basis that the raids were conducted there and that key witnesses to the case are also in Johor Baru.
On Dec 28 last year, the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Organisation of Malaysia (Ikhlas) had filed a suit against MBJB, the police and the government over the seizure of vape products belonging to its members.
It has named the Health Ministry director-general, Health Ministry, the Inspector-General of Police, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism director-general and MBJB as defendants.
In its statement of claim, Ikhlas had sought a court order to rule that all the actions of the defendants in raiding and confiscating the vape products belonging to its members was illegal, wrong and done in bad faith.
A joint operation by the authorities was conducted in Johor Baru on Dec 15 last year, where vape products including parts, accessories and flavoured fluids were seized.
Ikhlas wants the court to prohibit the defendants from raiding, confiscating and fining its members for the sale of vape products, and to order the return of the seized products within seven days of the order.