Kuala lumpur: The High Court has fixed June 10 to deliver its decision in the USD14.57 million civil suit filed by Lebanon-based jeweller, Global Royalty Trading SAL, against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor over the alleged loss of more than 40 pieces of jewellery. Judge Quay Chew Soon set the date after the hearing concluded with the testimony from Chong Tong Leong, the sixth witness for the third parties - the Inspector-General of Police and the Malaysian Government.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the court has scheduled May 13 for the filing of written submissions, with replies due on May 28. The final decision will be delivered on June 10 at 9 am via the Zoom app.
Earlier, Chong Tong Leong testified that he had carried out renovation works at a Pavilion Residences condominium unit between March and May 2018 after being engaged by the unit owner, identified as Nadziff. He stated that on May 14, 2018, he returned to inspect the double-storey unit ahead of air-conditioning installation and discovered several large suitcases in a ground-floor room that had not been there previously. Following this discovery, he contacted Nadziff, who instructed him to temporarily stop the renovation works.
Chong explained that the renovation, which cost approximately RM10,000, involved general repairs, including air-conditioning installation, conducted with one local worker and five Myanmar workers. The renovation works were paused for two weeks in early May 2018 while awaiting the arrival of the air-conditioning units. Chong emphasized that he was the sole individual with access to the unit and was always present with the workers during renovation hours.
During the proceedings, former Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh told the court that bags of cash and jewellery were found on the floor during a police raid on the condominium unit on May 17, 2018. The three-day hearing included testimony from Global Royalty managing director Samer Hassib Halimeh, Rosmah as the defendant, and six witnesses for the third parties, including senior police officers.
On March 29, 2023, Global Royalty filed a lawsuit against Rosmah, alleging she falsely claimed that 44 pieces of jewellery, including diamond necklaces, bracelets, and tiaras, sent to her by the company's agent, had been seized by the Malaysian authorities under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. The company claimed that only one of the 44 pieces was retained by the police, and the remaining 43 pieces were not in their custody. Global Royalty further asserted that Rosmah had shifted the responsibility to the Malaysian Government when, in fact, the jewellery had gone missing.