The government wants to be part of Global Royalty Trading SAL’s suit against Rosmah Mansor on grounds that the jewellery belongs to the government and was bought with stolen money.
The High Court has allowed the government to be a party in the lawsuit by a Lebanese jeweller against former prime minister Najib Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor.
Senior federal counsel Alice Loke said judicial commissioner Wong Chee Lin had allowed their application to intervene in the lawsuit in chambers today.
“With that, Global Royalty Trading SAL will have to amend their statement of claim to include the government as another defendant,” she said.
Loke added that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) would go through the lawsuit before deciding on its next course of action.
The government had sought to be part of Global Royalty’s suit against Rosmah on grounds that the jewellery belonged to the government and was bought with stolen money.
The High Court will hear Rosmah’s bid to strike out the jeweller’s suit on Oct 11.
Global Royalty sued Rosmah on June 26, seeking the return of the jewellery which included rings, necklaces, earrings and pendants.
The most expensive piece of jewellery listed in the lawsuit was a 16.5-carat cushion-cut diamond ring which costs US$925,000.
The company also loaned Rosmah a diamond tiara worth US$575,000.
“The items were sent to the defendant (Rosmah) in a consignment agreement that she would return the jewellery that she did not choose.
“Those items that she wished to buy would be paid for through a third agent or herself,” it said.
The company said Rosmah would receive the jewellery herself or through her agents in Dubai, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
It also claimed that she had acknowledged receipt of the 44 pieces of jewellery on May 22.
However, the items sent to Rosmah are reportedly no longer in her possession as they were seized by the authorities in May.
“The company maintains that we are the owners of all the items, and the ownership was not transferred to her,” Global Royalty said.
“There is a great risk that the jewellery will be forfeited or converted by third parties that are not related to the agreement between her and the company.”
Global Royalty is seeking a court declaration that it is the owner of all 44 pieces of jewellery. It also wants an order for Rosmah to return the items.
“Alternatively, if she cannot return all the jewellery, she is responsible for paying us the cost of the jewellery of US$14.8 million,” it said.
However, Rosmah’s lawyers said she never bought any of the jewellery, adding that the items were delivered for her viewing “by virtue of the fact that she was the wife of the prime minister of Malaysia”.
“The suit filed by Global Royalty contravenes the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
“Accordingly, the said suit filed by Global Royalty against our client is clearly unlawful, frivolous, vexatious and/or an abuse of court process,” they said. – FMT
Earlier reports:
Aug 5, Lebanese Jeweller ‘Upset’ Having to Sue Close Friend Rosmah
Jul 27, Court Fixes Oct 11 to Hear Rosmah’s Bid to Strike out Jewellery Suit
Jul 23, Rosmah Bids to Strike Out RM60M Lawsuit by Lebanese Jeweller
Jul 19, Rosmah May Have to Pay RM60M
Jul 14, Rosmah’s Undeclared Jewellery may be Confiscated
Jul 10, Lebanese Firm Sues Rosmah over Alleged RM60M Consignment of Jewellery