Heirs denied millions due to bickering, distrust

WEALTH PRESERVATION

PETALING JAYA: It took six years after the death of one prominent figure to divide his RM10mil estate because of disputes among the beneficiaries.

Due to the bickering, none of the children were able to enjoy the millions left behind by their late father and caused some of the siblings to fall into poverty.

Eventually, one of the children took the initiative to file the case in the Syariah Court, using the faraid provision to solve their disputes.

The family also agreed to appoint a lawyer to help them with the matter.

The Syariah Court then resolved the long-standing dispute, employing the faraid provision, which is a way in Islamic law that deals with the distribution of the estate of a deceased person among his heirs, in accordance with Quranic decree and according to the hadith (or tradition) of Prophet Muhammad.

Syariah lawyer Khairul Anwar Rahmat (pic) said that for six years, the children of the wealthy man could not come to terms with an equitable distribution of the estate.

“Distribution of the assets, property, cash, unit trusts, company shares and bank savings – worth RM10mil – could not be done because one of the children disputed the deceased’s will,” he said.

According to the facts of the case, the man was hospitalised for two years after suffering a chronic illness.

Khairul said that prior to his death, the man put his thumbprint on a document related to the inheritance of his estate.

“The process of signing the document was done in the hospital in front of witnesses deemed reliable.

“However, one of his children did not accept the document as a valid will because he (the son) had not seen it (the signing) for himself.

“To make matters worse, the disputing child accused his siblings of plotting against him by making a fake will to wind up the assets and to leave him out of the inheritance,” said Khairul.

After years of being unable to resolve the dispute, one of the children decided to migrate. The person’s absence made the court proceedings more difficult.

“In the end, no party was able to enjoy the millions in assets left behind by the deceased,” added Khairul, saying that one of the siblings later filed the case in the Syariah Court to resolve the issue through faraid provisions.

“This is the best resolution as guided by the Quran and hadith, together with the blessing of God,” Khairul said.

He said there would not be any animosity, jealousy and dispute when all parties agreed to return to the courts for truth and justice.