THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has postponed to next month a hearing on the government’s application to forfeit RM680 million worth of valuables linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) seized from properties owned by OBYU Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Enforcement officers had seized designer jewellery, watches and handbags as well as cash that allegedly belonged to Najib Razak and family from properties owned by an ally of the former prime minister.

Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin set March 11 to hear the prosecution’s reply to a preliminary objection to the forfeiture application after deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Shukri Hussain informed the court that a submission was yet to be prepared due to a mix-up on hearing dates.

The judge allowed a request for a further two weeks for a written submission to be prepared and presented to court.

The judge set March 11 to hear applications from Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and jewellery firm Global Royalty Trading SAL to obtain photographs of the seized assets and to physically inspect the said assets.

Lawyers Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin and Zainal Abidin represented Obyu Holdings while Global Royalty Trading, owned by Lebanese jeweller Samer Halimeh, was represented by David Gurupatham. Nur Fazreen Hazrina Rahim appeared for Najib while Rosmah was represented by Iskandar Shah Ibrahim.

OBYU Holdings is owned by Sarawakian tycoon Bustari Yusof, who is the brother of former works minister Fadillah Yusof and a close associate of Najib.

Putrajaya has filed a suit to forfeit 11,991 items of jewellery police seized last year from condominiums occupied by Najib’s family at the Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur.

Among the items confiscated on May 17 last year and January 31 this year were 11,990 pieces of gold jewellery, 401 watches 16 watch accessories, 234 pairs of sunglasses, and 306 luxury handbags, as well as cash amounting to more than RM114 million. – February 19, 2020.