Rosmah applies to recuse High Court judge from 1MDB lawsuit

(FMT) – Rosmah Mansor has applied to recuse Adlin Abdul Majid, the High Court judge presiding over 1MDB’s US$346 million (RM1.63 billion) lawsuit against her.

The Edge reported the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak as filing the application yesterday on grounds of Adlin’s previous employment with Messrs Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, which she said has been involved in 1MDB’s asset recovery since 2018.

The court had already set the hearing for the application for Aug 26, having been informed of Rosmah’s intentions during proceedings in mid-June.

Rosmah’s lawyers Shafee Abdullah and Reza Rahim have also indicated that they may file an application to strike out the entire lawsuit.

In her application, Rosmah argued that there was a “real danger of bias” should Adlin continue to preside over the matter, given that 1MDB was a client of her previous employer while she was still a partner at the firm.

Adlin was a partner with the firm from 2011 until 2021, after which she entered the judiciary.

“Lee Hishamuddin was appointed as early as 2018 to represent the plaintiff in matters related to recovering 1MDB assets. In fact, the media at the time reported that the ‘law firm had previously received instructions to act for 1MDB in certain related proceedings’,” Rosmah said.

Last month, 1MDB, SRC International and nine companies filed a lawsuit against Rosmah and Shabnam Naraindas Daswani, a fashion designer, seeking to recover a total of US$346 million in allegedly misappropriated funds.

They claimed 1MDB and SRC International’s funds were wrongfully used to purchase multiple items, including jewellery and handbags.

They also claimed that the funds were channelled to the recipients through various offshore companies.

The plaintiffs are also seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages from the duo.

Lawyers Lee Shih and Lim Chee Wee appeared for 1MDB, SRC International and the others.