Lebanese Jeweller Suing Rosmah Says Not All 44 Pieces With Authorities

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The initial seizure of RM1.1 billion has now been reduced to RM680 million but no explanation has been given by the Malaysian police (Bernama) — A Lebanese jewellery firm, which filed an RM60mil suit against former prime minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor over 44 pieces of jewellery, claims that not all jewellery pieces are in the custody of the authorities.
Global Royalty Trading SAL filed the suit against Rosmah on June 26 last year seeking the return of the 44 pieces of jewellery sent to her for selection or, alternatively, that she pay US$14.79mil (almost RM60mil).
Lawyer Datuk David Gurupatham, representing the jeweller, told reporters that his client had inspected the jewellery that had been seized by the authorities and made a statement to the police that not all the pieces were there.
“I can’t say how many pieces there are because we have not filed the necessary documents,” he said when asked how many pieces were in custody.
“Once we have filed it, we will be able to explain the position. So this has to be verified,” he said.
Gurupatham said his client was also seeking to become an intervenor in the government’s forfeiture suit against the items seized before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
“We have written to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to ask for the details of the forfeiture suit. They have replied and so now we will intervene in the action.
“We will verify whether the pieces of jewellery are there and what is not there. Then we will proceed with the trial,” he told reporters after the matter came up for case management before High Court judge Wong Chee Lin.
He said the court had fixed Sept 17 and from Oct 21 to 24 for the trial, and Aug 19 for case management here today.
On May 7, the AGC filed a notice of forfeiture over hundreds of items, including branded handbags and 27 vehicles seized from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, their three children and 13 individuals and companies.
The case has been set for case management on July 8 before Justice Mohamed Zaini.
Last Feb 14, the High Court ordered Rosmah to check and confirm in seven days the existence of the 44 pieces of jewellery that were in her possession before seizure by the police.
In its suit, Global Royalty claimed that on Feb 10, 2018, they sent 44 pieces of jewellery including diamond necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and tiaras, each worth between US$124,000 (RM519,183) and US$925,000 (RM3.8mil) to the defendant through hand carry courier via its two agents.
The company said during delivery, Rosmah confirmed and accepted the terms, as well as conditions, in Memorandum No. 926 relating to the jewellery.
It also claimed that Rosmah, in a letter dated May 22, 2018, also confirmed and acknowledged receiving the jewellery concerned but said all the jewellery were no longer in her possession, and they had been confiscated and were now being kept by the Malaysian authorities.
Global Royalty is seeking the court’s declaration that the firm was the owner of the 44 pieces of jewellery, apart from an order that ownership of the jewellery was not transferred to the defendant.
It is also seeking a mandatory order for Rosmah to provide a list of the jewellery seized, for the jewellery to be returned or for Rosmah to pay the price of the jewellery of US$14.79mil (RM59.83mil).
 

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