KUALA LUMPUR – Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has lost her bid to include the Malaysian police and government as third parties to a RM67.4 million suit brought by Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL over the loss of 44 pieces of jewellery.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Ong Chee Kwan said police and the government did not owe Rosmah a duty of indemnity, but she was free to file a separate civil suit for any losses due to the actions of the authorities.
Rosmah is expected to file an appeal against today’s decision at the Court of Appeal.
The high court has fixed August 2 for case management, and June 2-6 next year for trial.
On March 29, 2023, Global Royalty filed a suit against Rosmah and claimed that she had lied by saying that 44 pieces of jewellery – including diamond necklaces, bracelets and tiaras sent to her by the company’s agent – were seized by the Malaysian authorities for offences under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
According to the Beirut-based company, this was because only one piece of jewellery was kept by police and the remaining 43 pieces were not in the custody of the authorities.
Global Royalty, as the plaintiff, also claimed that Rosmah shifted the burden to the Malaysian government when in fact, the jewellery pieces were missing.
In her application to initiate third-party proceedings against police and the government, Rosmah reiterated that the pieces of jewellery in contention were not in her possession and had been seized by the authorities. – May 29, 2024