I am not responsible for the loss of jewellery, says Rosmah

PETALING JAYA: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has told a High Court here that she is not responsible for the loss of 43 pieces of jewellery as it was taken by the police.

Rosmah said this through her defence statement which was filed by Messrs Eza Rahim and Rajivan at the High Court.

The wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said this in her statement answering a second suit filed by Global Royalty Trading SAL against her on March 29, regarding the claim to retrieve the 43 pieces of jewellery.

Rosmah alleged the jewellery was taken by police or the Malaysian Government in a raid, adding that if it is missing, the police and the government must be responsible for the losses of the Lebanese company that is the plaintiff in the suit.

"I stress here that the statement that the said jewellery was taken by the police and Malaysian Government has its merits as an item of the missing jewellery was found with them," said Rosmah on Tuesday (June 7).

She said that all the jewellery involved was kept at the same place and was seized and taken by them.

"It is common knowledge that all valuable property which belongs to me and my family was seized, as such it is not possible that I will keep the jewellery worth millions at a time where I was not allowed to travel overseas," she added.

Other than this, Rosmah, 72, denied that she asked for the jewellery alleged by Global Royalty.

She said the jewellery was given to her for the benefit and profit of the company involved to attract publicity and credibility among its customers.

On June 26, 2018 Global Royalty Trading SAL sued Rosmah as the defendant and demanded payment of US$14.79mil (RM68.11mil) for 44 pieces of jewellery sent to her for her to choose from.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff alleged only one of the 44 pieces of jewellery was in police custody.

On Aug 28, 2019 the Malaysian government through its affidavit by Police Superintendent G/15177 Foo Wei Min (which was filed in the civil case) said one of the 44 pieces of jewellery was with the police.

The plaintiff then withdrew the suit to be filed again and intervene in the proceedings of the Malaysian government against OBYU Holdings Sdn Bhd, the owner of the jewellery seized by the police under the Anti Money Laundering Act.

On March 11, 2020 Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussein allowed the application by the plaintiff to inspect the jewellery which was seized by the police.

Global Realty then filed a new suit to retrieve the 43 pieces of jewellery from Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wife.

According to the writ which was filed at the High Court on March 29 the jewellery store has taken steps through its lawyers Messrs David Gurupatham and Koay, naming Rosmah as the sole defendant.