KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 22): The High Court here on Monday (Nov 22) fixed May 23 to May 27, 2022 to hear submissions from the prosecution and lawyers representing Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor besides Lebanon-based jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL in the case concerning the Malaysian government’s attempt to forfeit over RM1 billion worth of alleged 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal-linked assets, which the police seized in May 2018 from Pavilion Residences condominiums along Jalan Raja Chulan here.
High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin fixed the hearing dates for the case over the asset forfeiture, which Najib, Rosmah and Global Royalty are contesting against.
It was reported that the police in May 2018 seized items including cash amounting to about RM114 million besides jewellery, handbags, watches and spectacles from the condominiums owned by OBYU Holdings Sdn Bhd.
According to news reports, the prosecution in 2019 filed the forfeiture application against OBYU to seize the items, which are being kept on Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) premises.
In the High Court here on Monday, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Faten Hadni Khairuddin represented the prosecution, while Najib was represented by his lawyer Eleena Rashid, who also spoke on behalf of lawyer Azamuddin Aziz who represented Rosmah.
Representing Global Royalty was lawyer Venothani Raja Gopal.
On May 20, 2021, It was reported that the the High Court here on that day rejected the government’s attempt to forfeit the estimated RM114 million in cash because the prosecution failed to prove the money was obtained from illegal activities linked to 1MDB.
Justice Muhammad Jamil reportedly did not make any order as to whom the money should be returned to.
On Aug 5, theedgemarkets.com, quoting a source, reported that the money was returned to Najib via his representative.
The money was returned to Najib after the High Court rejected the government’s attempt to forfeit the money and following the prosecution’s move to not appeal against the High Court’s decision.
According to news reports, former Umno president Najib and the party had sought from the authorities the return of the estimated RM114 million, which comprised mostly foreign currencies.
On Nov 8, theedgemarkets.com, quot
It was reported that Global Royalty representatives claimed ownership of 44 pieces of the close to 12,000 pieces of jewellery seized by the authorities.
According to news reports, Global Royalty claimed that it sent the 44 pieces of jewellery said to be worth US$14.79 million (about RM62 million) to Rosmah for viewing in February 2018.
Global Royalty reportedly claimed that Rosmah ordered the 44 pieces of jewellery but never paid for them, and that the items included a diamond necklace besides earrings, rings, bracelets and a tiara, each worth between US$124,000 and US$925,000.
Rosmah, meanwhile, claimed that the 44 pieces of jewellery were sent to her for viewing purposes only, according to news reports.