KUALA LUMPUR: A contractor, testifying in a US$14.57mil (RM68.3mil) “missing jewellery” lawsuit against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (pic), was told to stop renovation works after discovering several mysterious large suitcases in a room.
Chong Tong Leong, the sixth witness for the third parties – the Inspector-General of Police and the Malaysian government, said he carried out renovation works at a Pavilion Residences condominium unit between March and May 2018 after being engaged by the unit owner, identified as Nadziff.
Chong, 53, told the court that on May 14, 2018, between 11am and noon, he returned to inspect the double-storey unit ahead of air-conditioning installation and discovered several large suitcases in a ground-floor room that had not been there previously.
“After seeing that, I left the unit and contacted Nadziff, who instructed me to temporarily stop renovation works.
“I later returned the access card and keys after completing the job,” he said.
Chong said the renovation, valued at about RM10,000, involved general repairs, including air-conditioning installation, which he carried out with one local worker and five Myanmar workers from 9am to 6pm daily, in line with building management rules.
He said the works were paused for two weeks in early May 2018 while awaiting the arrival of the air-conditioning units.
“I was the only person with access to the unit and I was always present with the workers during renovation works until the end of each day,” he said, Bernama reported.
On March 29, 2023, Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL Ltd filed a lawsuit against Rosmah, alleging that she falsely claimed 44 pieces of jewellery – including diamond necklaces, bracelets and tiaras – sent to her by the company’s agent had been seized by Malaysian authorities under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The company claimed that only one of the 44 pieces was retained by the police, while the remaining 43 were not in its custody.
Global Royalty further alleged that Rosmah had shifted responsibility to the Malaysian government when, in fact, the jewellery had gone missing.
On Tuesday, former Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh told the court that bags of cash and jewellery were found spilling onto the floor during a police raid on the condominium unit on May 17, 2018.
The three-day hearing, which began on Monday, saw testimony from Global Royalty managing director Samer Hassib Halimeh as the sole plaintiff witness, followed by Rosmah as the defendant and six witnesses for the third parties, including senior police officers.
Meanwhile, High Court judge Justice Quay Chew Soon set June 10 to deliver its decision
“The court has fixed May 13 for the filing of written submissions, with replies due on May 28.
“The decision will be delivered on June 10 at 9am via the Zoom app,” he said.
