KUALA LUMPUR: Fashion designer Datuk Jovian Mandagie has been declared bankrupt by the High Court over his failure to settle a RM5mil friendly loan to a company.
Senior assistant registrar Muhammad Faisal Zulkifli issued the order against the former son–in-law of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during a hearing of the creditor’s petition here on Thursday.
According to court documents, Cekap Air Sdn Bhd applied for the bankruptcy notice to be issued against Jovian, 39, after he failed to pay RM5,284,340.66, inclusive of interest, to the construction company.
According to lawyer Siti Nur Athirazatti Rohizad, who represented the company, Jovian did not adhere to a summary judgment issued by the High Court on April 2, 2024, ordering Jovian to pay the loan.
"Jovian did file several applications to stay and strike out the bankruptcy notice and petition that was filed against him but they were dismissed by the court," Siti Nur Athirazatti told the media.
In its statement of claim, the company said it had given out a loan of RM5mil to Jovian on Feb 25, 2022.
It stated that the loan was given out verbally and casually as the company's director, Yong Zhen Wei, and Jovian were acquaintances.
The loan was meant to be repaid in 12 months.
"Furthermore, there was no reason for the plaintiff (Cekap Air) to doubt the defendant (Jovian) as the latter had several other businesses and was the (then) son-in-law of former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob," it said.
However, the plaintiff claimed that Jovian failed, refused, or neglected to make repayments.
The plaintiff contended that at all material times, Jovian was unjustly enriched when he received the loan without making repayments, causing terrible losses to the defendant.
His appeal on the summary judgment will be heard at the Court of Appeal on Sept 15.
Jovian married Ismail Sabri's daughter, Nina, on Dec 11, 2013. They divorced in 2024.
