JUDGMENT

[1] The parties in these appeals unfortunately have quite a long chequered litigation history between them spanning over 17 years - see decision of the Federal Court in Ling Peek Hoe & Anor v. Ding Siew Ching & Another Appeal [2017] 4 MLRA 372; [2017] 5 MLJ 385; [2017] 7 CLJ 641 (Federal Court). Ultimately, after succeeding in proving that the appellants had defrauded them into parting with their properties, the properties were returned to the respondents. Because the High Court had also ordered that damages be assessed by the Registrar, the parties were back before the High Court on that assessment of damages. These appeals arise from the damages that were assessed.

[2] A substantial part of the damages awarded comprised legal charges (RM2,918,000.00) that the respondents claimed they had incurred in the course of litigation between the parties. It is these legal charges that the appellants were discontent with and which form the substratum of these appeals; whether such charges may be recovered as special damages in the same proceedings between the same parties.