Ismail Sabri's former son-in-law declared bankrupt

Summary

• Jovian Mandagie declared bankrupt after failing to repay a RM5.28m friendly loan from Cekap Air Sdn Bhd.

• The High Court had previously granted a summary judgment ordering fashion designer to repay the amount.

• His bid to set aside the bankruptcy proceedings is dismissed; his appeal against a lawsuit brought by the company is set for Sept 15.

The High Court has declared fashion designer Jovian Mandagie bankrupt after he failed to repay a “friendly loan” totalling RM5.28 million from an engineering and construction company.

Senior assistant registrar Faisal Zulkifli made the ruling during today’s proceedings after allowing a creditor’s petition filed by Cekap Air Sdn Bhd on Nov 20 last year.

Berita Harian reported that according to the petition, Jovian, who is also the former son-in-law of ex-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was accused of committing an act of bankruptcy within six months prior to the petition’s filing date by failing to comply with a bankruptcy notice.

The May 21, 2024, notice stated that Jovian owed Cekap Air RM5,284,340.66, inclusive of interest, as of the same date the previous year - an amount arising from a summary judgment granted by the High Court on April 2, the same year, in a separate suit.

The company was represented by lawyer Siti Nur Athirazatti Rohizad, who said the bankruptcy notice was filed after Jovian failed to comply with the High Court’s summary judgment.

The lawyer added that after receiving approval to issue the bankruptcy notice, her client had proceeded to file the creditor’s petition allowed by the court today.

“Jovian had filed applications to stay and set aside the notice and petition, but all were dismissed by the court,” she was quoted as saying.

Case background

On April 2 last year, the High Court ordered Jovian to pay RM5 million to Cekap Air after granting the company’s application for a summary judgment, which allowed the plaintiff to obtain a court decision without undergoing a full trial.

On May 16, 2023, the company filed a suit against Jovian, alleging he failed to repay the RM5 million loan given on friendly terms while highlighting his alleged acquaintance with the company’s director, Yong Zhen Wei.

In its statement of claim, the company asserted that it had loaned Jovian RM5 million upon his verbal request on Feb 25, 2022, and transferred the amount to the client account of his legal firm.

Cekap Air said that on Jovian’s instructions, the law firm had confirmed receipt of the funds.

Jovian’s appeal against the summary judgment in the main suit is scheduled to be heard on Sept 15.

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