that when a document creating an obligation is in the hands of the obligor the obligation has been discharged.” [79] Mahkamah merujuk kepada kes Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd & Anor v. The Owners of and/or any other persons interested in the ship or vessel the ‘Borcos Takdir’ [2012] 1 LNS 1116 yang memutuskan seperti berikut: “Sarkar on Evidence (14th Edition at page 1547) deals with the application of this sub-section thus: Presumption From Not Calling Witnesses Acquainted With Facts and Keeping the Adversary Out of Possession of Evidence Everything is to be presumed against a party who keeps his adversary out of the possession of evidence by taking means of retaining the evidence in his own custody.A similar presumption may also arise when a party does not call witnesses who are within his reach and are acquainted with the facts of the case When a party failed to call as his witness the principal person involved and who was in a position to give a first hand account of the matter in controversy and who could have refuted on oath the allegation on the other side, it is legitimate to drawn an adverse inference [Seth Maganmal v. Daibarilal 47 CLJ 222; 54 MLJ 208. Court may draw adverse inference against a party who being in a position to adduce better evidence deliberately abstains from doing so." S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA [80] Mahkamah merujuk kepada kes yang mengolah pemakaian ‘presumption of fact’ iaitu Chandramogan Manogaran & Anor. V. Kong Wai Seng & Ors [2021] 1 LNS 158: “[78] In section 114 Evidence Act 1950, it stipulates "The court may presume the existence of any fact which it thinks likely to have happened, regard being had to the common course of natural events, human conduct, and public and private business, in their relation to the facts of the particular case" and in illustration (g) "The court may presume, that evidence which could be and is not produced would if produced be unfavourable to the person who with holds it. [79] Adverse inference is a legal inference, adverse to the concerned party, drawn from silence or absence of requested evidence. This rule applies not only to evidence destroyed but also to evidence existing but not produced by the party as well as to evidence under a party's control but not produced. [80] The High Court in LINDA BINTI OTHMAN v. PEMBANGUNAN TANAH DAN PERUMAHAN SENDIRIAN BERHAD [2019] 1 LNS 2105; [2019] AMEJ 1682 said that "Adverse inference is a legal inference, adverse to the concerned party, drawn from silence or absence of S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA requested evidence. This rule applies not only to evidence destroyed but also to evidence existing but not produced by the party as well as to evidence under a party's control but not produced. ... There are a few rules in this, i. the Court is empowered to invoke this presumption but it is discretionary ii. the conditions-precedent to invoke this presumption which are a. the evidence is available b. it was not produced c. it was withheld d. there is a possibility that if it is produced, it may be against the party that seeks to withhold it e. the evidence is key to either unfolding of events (without which would be unexplained) or leaves a lacuna if not adduced." [81] Walaupun Plaintif telah mengarahkan dan/atau memohon Defendan untuk menghentikan pengeluaran SBLC tersebut tetapi Mahkamah berpendapat tindakan Plaintif tersebut tidak menunjukkan sebarang niat di pihak Plaintif untuk membatalkan dan/atau memberhentikan transaksi dengan Defendan. S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA [82] Defendan banyak bergantung dengan email Plaintif bertarikh 4.4.2022 yang bertujuan untuk menangguhkan pengeluaran SBLC tersebut tetapi gagal menafikan bahawa terdapatnya email bertarikh 5.4.2022 yang meminta SBLC dikeluarkan. [83] Mahkamah merujuk kepada kes Mahkamah Rayuan iaitu kes Konsortium Lebuhraya Utara-Timur (KL) Sdn Bhd v Liew Choong Kin [2018] 3 MLJ 354 yang menyatakan sebagaimana berikut: “[25] Based on the above actual facts, the respondent could be said to be taking a different stance before the court in this action and under the law he was not allowed to blow hot and cold in the attitude that he adopts. The learned judge failed to consider that the respondent’s claim for trespass and the claim he had already made at the second enquiry arose from the same facts. He should accordingly be estopped from commencing this action. The respondent having made a choice at the second enquiry could be treated as having made an election from which position he should not be allowed to abandon. He had taken a benefit arising out of the course of conduct which he had pursued earlier and with which his subsequent conduct was inconsistent with his election. The respondent should not be at liberty to approbate and reprobate having taken a particular position. Reference in this connection could be made to the decision of this Court in Kelana Megah Development Sdn Bhd v Kerajaan Negeri Johor & Another Appeal [2016] 8 CLJ 804 wherein it was held at page 814 (emphasis added to highlight the similarities) – S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA [20] The appellant’s conduct as described hereinbefore is plainly inconsistent and contradictory. The alleged rights pursued and relief sought through the present action are remarkably inconsistent with and contradict the right pursued and relief sought in the land references. … The appellant’s conduct, as it were, could thus be properly described as blowing hot and cold that while the appellant approved the acquisitions they also rejected it. The appellant is not permitted to approbate and reprobate on the issue of the acquisition of the seven plots of land. ... [22] Further, in Cheah Theam Kheng v. City Centre Sdn Bhd (In Liquidation) & Other Appeals [2012] 2 CLJ 16; ; [2012] 1 MLJ 761, this court cited with approval the English case of Express Newspaper plc v. News (UK) Ltd And Others [1990] 3 AII ER 376 wherein it was stated: In the words of Sir Nicolas Browne-Wilkinson VC in Express Newspaper plc v. News (UK) Ltd and others [1990] 3 AII ER 376, at pp 383-384: There is a principle of law of general application that it is no possible to approbate and reprobate. That means you are not allowed to blow hot and cold in the attitude that you adopt. A man cannot adopt two inconsistent attitudes towards another: he must elect between them and, having elected to adopt one stance, cannot thereafter be permitted to go back and adopt an inconsistent stance. (emphasis added)” S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA [84] Mahkamah berpendapat bahawa Plaintif telah berjaya membuktikan semasa perbicaraan penuh bahawa rundingan dan permintaan telah diteruskan tetapi Defendan telah gagal untuk memberikan butir-butir lanjut mengenai SBLC tersebut dan berdolak dalih untuk memuktamadkan Perjanjian Perkhidmatan Kewangan tersebut. [85] Mahkamah berpendapat bahawa dakwaan Defendan bahawa ia dihalang untuk mendapatkan bank pengeluar untuk mengeluarkan SBLC tersebut kerana Plaintif gagal dan/atau enggan memberikan kerjasama untuk membekalkan butiran lengkap berkenaan Perjanjian Jual Beli tersebut dengan Pembekal tersebut adalah dakwaan kosong kerana dakwaan Defendan tersebut tidak wujud dan/atau tidak pernah dibangkitkan Defendan sebelum tindakan Plaintif ini. [86] Mahkamah mencapai kesimpulan sedemikian kerana Plaintif telah berjaya membuktikan menerusi pengakuan Defendan sendiri semasa perbicaraan penuh bahawa deraf SBLC tersebut telah disediakan oleh Defendan tanpa butiran lengkap dan diserahkan kepada Plaintif. [87] Defendan juga tidak dapat memberikan sebarang bukti dokumentari bahawa Defendan pernah membuat apa-apa bayaran kepada mana-mana bank untuk urusan SBLC ini. [88] Mahkamah merujuk kepada nota keterangan no 3 muka surat 27 yang menyatakan sebagaimana berikut: Do you agree with me that there is no documents in the Court today that shows that the Defendant had actually S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA paid the entire fee to the bank? Is there any receipts from the bank today? Sorry, can I just get the lawyer to assist on that one? Go ahead. I can answer your question. Is not in the Bundle here. Very well. So you do not have any evidence showing that there are some form of fees or the entire fees is paid to the bank? Yes. [89] Dalam tindakan ini dan berdasarkan otoriti di atas, Mahkamah berpendapat bahawa Seksyen 114g iaitu adverse inference terpakai untuk menentang dakwaan Defendan dan menyebelahi Plaintif bahawa pihak yang telah melanggar perjanjian merupakan Defendan. Bayaran Perkhidmatan Pertama tersebut hendaklah dikembalikan [90] Mahkamah berpendapat bahawa Plaintif telah berjaya untuk membuktikan bahawa Perjanjian Perkhidmatan Kewangan tersebut dengan jelas menyatakan bahawa kesan kegagalan rundingan mengenai SBLC tersebut akan membangkitkan terma pemulangan semula Bayaran Perkhidmatan Pertama tersebut oleh Defendan kepada Plaintif. S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA [91] Klausa 3.2 dan Klausa 3.3 Perjanjian Perkhidmatan Kewangan tersebut menyatakan seperti berikut: Klausa 3.2 “Thereafter, the designated account owner i.e the supplier will notify the Employer after confirming the receipt of the bank instrument, and the Employer will need to pay 40% of the service charge to the Consultant within forty-eight hours by Telegraphic Transfer (TT). However, the Employer has the right to request the Consultant return all the service charge in the event if the supplier has confirmed that he/she is not received the receipt of the bank instrument from the consultant. Meanwhile, both parties will bear each their own taxes and fees which may incur from this service. Klausa 3.3 “Both parties agree that if the Employer has notified the Consultant in writing together with the confirmation from the receiving bank stating that the receiver bank is unable receive the bank instrument from the Consultant, then both parties may negotiate alternative solution to replace the relevant bank instrument. If both parties are unable to reach an amicable settlement, the Employer may request for refund within fourteen (14) International Banking days.” [92] Berdasarkan klausa-klausa 3.2 dan 3.3 Perjanjian Perkhidmatan Kewangan tersebut yang berjaya dibuktikan oleh Plaintif dan tidak disangkal oleh Defendan, Mahkamah berpendapat bahawa Bayaran S/N 75y/h7i2I0W0u9sxa42cA Perkhidmatan Pertama tersebut hendaklah dikembalikan kepada Plaintif oleh Defendan. Plaintif tidak berhak untuk gantirugi atas pembatalan perjanjian dengan Pembekal tersebut [93] Mahkamah berpendapat tidak terdapat merit dalam tuntutan Plaintif untuk gantirugi akibat kegagalan Perjanjian Jual Beli tersebut dengan Pembekal tersebut dan lain-lain gantirugi yang dituntut. [94] Mahkamah merujuk seksyen 74 Akta Kontrak 1950 sebagaimana berikut: “Compensation for loss or damage caused by breach of contract