Jewellery firm, Rosmah file bids against each other

Global Royalty Trading SAL has filed for a summary judgment against Rosmah Mansor in its RM67.46 million jewellery lawsuit.

However, the wife of incarcerated former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has also filed a bid for the Lebanese jewellery firm to deposit US$1 million (RM4.58 million) with the civil court as security for costs.

Rosmah’s counsel Rajivan Nambiar confirmed with Malaysiakini that the two applications were filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday.

A summary judgment is a judgement entered by a court for one party and against another party summarily, without a full trial.

An order for security for costs protects a party - such as defendant Rosmah - against the risk that they will win at trial and be awarded their costs, but then not be able to enforce a costs order against the other (losing) party, either within the jurisdiction or abroad.

Defence of merit

According to the summary judgment application, Global Royalty Trading contended they seek this legal route as Rosmah had allegedly failed to raise any defence of merit against the lawsuit.

Previously through her statement of defence, Rosmah claimed that it was the firm that sent the jewellery to her for publicity, and that she did not seek the items.

In a reply filed in response to the defence, Global Royalty Trading contended it is a well-established international business that does not need her help for publicity.

Through the summary judgment application, the plaintiff seeks a mandatory order for Rosmah to return 43 jewellery pieces within 14 days of the date of the order, if granted.

In the event the jewellery is not handed back, the plaintiff seeks for the defendant to pay over RM67 million for the cost of the items.

Meanwhile, in her own security for costs application, Rosmah contended that there is a need for Global Royalty Trading to deposit the US$1 million with the Malaysian civil court because the company is incorporated in Lebanon, which is outside this country’s judiciary jurisdiction.

“Malaysia does not have any reciprocal agreement with Lebanon to enforce a judgment.

“If the defendant succeeds in the legal action and obtains cost against the plaintiff, then the defendant would face difficulty in enforcing the order on cost against the plaintiff, who is a foreign company,” Rosmah contended.

Viewing purposes

Back in April, Global Royalty refiled the RM67.46 million civil action against Rosmah over the allegation that the jewellery was sent to the defendant for viewing purposes.

Previously, in 2019, the firm filed a suit for 44 pieces of jewellery worth US$14.79 million or almost RM60 million but withdrew it later, with the firm having secured the return of one of the jewellery items.

However, the present civil action is only over 43 jewellery pieces, as the Malaysian authorities have returned one of the pieces to Global Royalty Trading.

Back in mid-2018 following the 14th general election, the police raided the Pavilion condominium in Kuala Lumpur where Najib and Rosmah were then residing and took away several items which included a jewellery piece from the Lebanese firm.

Law firm David Gurupatham & Koay is acting for Global Royalty Trading.

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