Govt seeks to intervene in Lebanese jeweller's suit against Rosmah

- Reuters file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will intervene in the suit by a Lebanese jeweller against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor for the payment or return of 44 pieces of jewellery worth about RM60mil.

 

Beirut-based company Global Royalty Trading SAL has named the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the sole defendant in its lawsuit.

It filed the suit against Rosmah at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 26 through Messrs David Gurupatham and Koay.  

Senior Federal Counsel S. Narkunavathy told reporters Tuesday (July 10) that the Attorney General's Chambers would apply to become an intervener on grounds that the jewellery were allegedly bought from stolen money.

 

SFC Narkunavathy said after meeting High Court Senior Assistant Registrar Siti Faraziana Zainuddin in chambers, the court directed the defendant to file her defence by July 23.

 

"The next case management is fixed on July 27," she said.

Lawyer Satwant Kaur acted for the company and mentioned on behalf of Rosmah.  

In its statement of claim, the company said Rosmah was a "long-standing customer of the plaintiff".

 

The company alleged that the jewellery was sent via consignment to Rosmah upon her request.

 

She would then evaluate and buy the items for herself or through a third party. 

 

Global Royalty Trading said Rosmah would return the remaining consignment that was not chosen by her.

 

It claimed the defendant would also borrow several pieces of jewellery and later returned them to the company, and that Rosmah would accept the jewellery herself or by her worker/agent in Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Singapore, and this was the "natural course" in all transactions between the plaintiff and the defendant.

 

The plaintiff said that all transactions were done via its representative and/or its salesperson.

 

It said the consignment was sent with a memorandum of delivery, which listed all the items and their prices together with the terms and conditions.

 

The plaintiff said on Feb 10 this year via a memorandum of delivery No 926, salesperson/agent Samer Halimeh and/or Maen Shakhshir had delivered 44 pieces of jewellery worth about RM59.8mil (US$14.8mil).

 

The company said among the pieces were a diamond cushion ring worth US$925,000, two fancy diamond necklaces and earrings worth US$670,000; and a fancy diamond necklace and earrings worth US$586,000.

 

It claimed that Rosmah confirmed and acknowledged receiving the jewellery via a letter dated May 22.

 

The company also said Rosmah confirmed in writing that the jewellery sent via consignment was no longer in her possession but had been sealed and under the custody of the Malaysian authorities.

 

The company is seeking an order that Rosmah confirms the list of the sealed items and a mandatory order for the return of the jewellery.

 

Alternatively, the company said if the jewellery or any of the pieces cannot be claimed back by the plaintiff, the defendant is responsible to pay back the costs of the items.