THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed Lebanon-based jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL’s bid to enter into summary judgment against Rosmah Mansor in a suit filed by the company to recover 43 pieces of jewellery worth RM67.4 million.

Lawyer Rajivan Nambiar, representing Rosmah, said judge Ong Chee Kwan dismissed Global Royalty’s application with costs of RM7,500.

“The court held this is not a fit and proper case to enter a summary judgment as there are issues that need to be ventilated at trial,” he said when contacted after the proceedings, which were conducted online.

A summary judgment is where a court decides a case without a trial if the factual or legal position is not in dispute.

Rajivan said the court allowed the application by the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak for security for costs against Global Royalty, with costs of RM5,000.

“Security for costs was fixed at RM75,000 with liberty to apply to vary the amount before trial once parties exchange documents or if experts are to be called.

“Costs of RM75,000 are to be paid by Global Royalty into court within one month from today,” said Rajivan, who was assisted by lawyer Mohd Reza Rahim.

Rajivan also said Rosmah’s application for third-party proceedings against police and the government was fixed for case management on December 14.

David Gurupatham, who acted for Global Royalty as the plaintiff, confirmed this when contacted.

On March 29, Global Royalty filed the suit against Rosmah claiming she had lied by saying 44 pieces of jewellery, including diamond necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and tiaras, sent to her by the company’s agent, were seized by Malaysian authorities under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

The Beirut-based company said this was because only one of the 44 pieces of jewellery was kept by police and the remaining 43 were not in authorities’ custody.

Global Royalty also claimed Rosmah shifted the burden to the Malaysian government when the jewellery had in fact gone missing.

The company first sued Rosmah on June 26, 2018, demanding she return the 44 pieces of jewellery sent to her for selection, or pay the full price of them, amounting to US$14.79 million (RM67.4 million then).

That suit, however, was withdrawn in 2019. – Bernama, November 28, 2023.