High Court to rule Oct 23 on bid to stop RHB closing shipping firm’s accounts

The High Court fixed October 23 to decide if RHB Bank can close Maritime Network's accounts pending a full suit resolution.

Maritime Network argues the bank has no grounds to close its accounts without specifying breaches of guidelines.

RHB Bank refutes having a fiduciary duty, treating the relationship as debtor and creditor, while the court ordered RHB to provide due diligence guidelines.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — The High Court here today fixed October 23 to rule on a shipping company’s bid to restrain RHB Bank Berhad from closing two of its long-standing accounts, pending the disposal of its full suit.

Judicial Commissioner Elesabet Paya Wan set the date after hearing submissions from P. Taneswaran, acting for Maritime Network Sdn Bhd, and the bank’s counsel, Gan Khong Aik.

Taneswaran submitted that the bank had failed to establish any breach of terms or requirements by the plaintiff, Maritime Network, that would justify closing its accounts.

He further argued that the bank owed Maritime Network both a fiduciary duty and a duty of care.

Gan countered that no fiduciary relationship or duty of care arose between the bank and the shipping company, submitting that the relationship between a bank and its customer is that of debtor and creditor.

In October last year, the High Court granted a temporary injunction restraining RHB from closing the two long-standing accounts, pending the hearing of the company’s application for a full injunction.

According to court documents, the company has held a multi-currency account and a current account with RHB since 2005.

On October 6, 2025, it received a termination notice dated October 1, 2025, stating that the bank intended to close both accounts and terminate all related services within 14 days, citing breaches of its internal policies and guidelines.

The company, however, claimed that RHB had failed to specify which policies or guidelines were allegedly breached.

The plaintiff said an ongoing dispute over the accounts had earlier led to its pre-trial discovery application being dismissed by the High Court on July 2, 2025.

The company subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal, which in December last year allowed its appeal against the dismissal of the pre-trial discovery application.

The appellate court then ordered RHB to produce its Minimum Due Diligence guidelines governing foreign-exchange transactions to the company within 45 days.

Maritime Network further alleged that the bank’s vague allegations placed it in a position of uncertainty, depriving it of any opportunity to defend itself.

This conduct, the company asserted, amounted to an abuse of power that prejudiced its rights.

It also claimed that the bank’s conduct demonstrated an intention to oppress rather than protect its legitimate banking interests. — Bernama

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高等法院将10月23日定为裁决RHB银行是否可以在诉讼全面解决之前关闭Maritime Network的账户的日期。

海事网络公司认为，银行没有理由在没有具体说明违反准则的情况下关闭其账户。

RHB银行否认负有信托义务，将双方关系视为债权债务关系，而法院则命令RHB提供尽职调查指南。

吉隆坡，9月24日讯——吉隆坡高等法院今日将10月23日定为裁决日，审理一家航运公司提出的阻止RHB银行关闭其两个长期账户的诉讼请求，该诉讼请求将持续到法院作出最终裁决为止。

司法专员 Elesabet Paya Wan 在听取了 Maritime Network Sdn Bhd 的代理律师 P. Taneswaran 和银行律师 Gan Khong Aik 的陈述后，确定了日期。

塔内斯瓦兰辩称，银行未能证明原告 Maritime Network 违反了任何条款或要求，因此无权关闭其账户。

他进一步辩称，该银行对 Maritime Network 负有信托义务和注意义务。

甘先生反驳说，银行与航运公司之间不存在信托关系或注意义务，银行与其客户之间的关系是债权债务关系。

去年 10 月，高等法院颁布临时禁令，禁止 RHB 关闭这两个长期账户，等待该公司申请全面禁令的听证会。

根据法庭文件，该公司自 2005 年以来一直在 RHB 银行持有多币种账户和活期账户。

2025 年 10 月 6 日，该公司收到一份日期为 2025 年 10 月 1 日的终止通知，称该银行打算在 14 天内关闭这两个账户并终止所有相关服务，理由是该公司违反了其内部政策和准则。

然而，该公司声称RHB未能具体说明哪些政策或准则被指控违反。

原告称，此前双方就账户问题存在持续争议，导致其审前取证申请于 2025 年 7 月 2 日被高等法院驳回。

该公司随后向上诉法院提起上诉，上诉法院于去年 12 月准许了该公司的上诉，推翻了审前取证申请被驳回的裁决。

上诉法院随后命令RHB在45天内向该公司提供其外汇交易最低尽职调查准则。

海事网络进一步声称，该银行含糊不清的指控使其处于不确定状态，使其没有机会为自己辩护。

该公司声称，这种行为构成滥用权力，损害了其权利。

报告还称，该银行的行为表明其意图是压制而非保护其合法的银行业务利益。——马新社

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