Rosmah fails to include police, govt in RM67.4mil jewellery suit

The High Court rules that the police and government did not commit any wrongful act and were under no duty to indemnify Rosmah Mansor for losses suffered.

(FMT) – The High Court has dismissed Rosmah Mansor’s application to add the police and the Malaysian government as third parties to a RM67.4 million suit brought by a Lebanese jeweller over more than 40 missing pieces of jewellery.

Justice Ong Chee Kwan said the police and the government had not committed any wrongful act in the matter and were under no duty to indemnify Rosmah for losses suffered.

“However, Rosmah is at liberty to file a fresh civil suit for any losses that she may have suffered as a result of the actions of the police and the government,” he said.

Ong also fixed a five-day trial to start on June 2 next year.

Meanwhile, Rosmah’s lawyer Reza Rahim said he had instructions to file an appeal against today’s decision.

Global Royalty Trading SAL is suing the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak for the loss of 44 jewellery items, including diamond necklaces, bracelets and tiaras sent to her by a company agent.

They claim she lied by saying they had been seized by the authorities under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

According to the Beirut-based company, the authorities only seized one of the items.

Global Royalty also claimed that Rosmah had sought to shift the burden to the Malaysian government when, in fact, the jewellery had gone missing.

In her application to initiate third-party proceedings, Rosmah reiterated her stand that the items had been seized by the authorities.