1MDB, 10 companies’ bid to recover RM1.56bil from Rosmah starts before new judge

 

1MDB, its five subsidiaries, and five other companies are jointly suing to recover US$346 million allegedly used by Rosmah Mansor to purchase luxury goods. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The US$346 million lawsuit filed by 1MDB and 10 other companies against Rosmah Mansor, accusing her of using misappropriated 1MDB funds to purchase luxury goods, is now under the jurisdiction of High Court judge Wan Amin Wan Yahya.

This was confirmed by lawyer Villasha Anbalagan, who represented all the plaintiffs in proceedings today, Bernama reported.

“Today saw the first case management before the new judge (Wan Amin).

“The court has fixed Feb 7 for the parties to provide an update of the status of the suit,” she said in a WhatsApp message following proceedings conducted via Zoom.

Last month, High Court judge Leong Wai Hong, a former partner at Skrine, granted Rosmah’s application and recused himself from presiding over the lawsuit, citing his past connection with the law firm.

Rosmah’s recusal application had raised concerns of a conflict of interests, as Skrine is representing 1MDB in a civil suit filed against her husband, former prime minister Najib Razak, and several 1MDB officials.

Before Leong, the case had been presided over by Justice Adlin Abdul Majid, who dismissed Rosmah’s initial recusal application on Sept 9, on grounds that there was no real danger of bias.

Adlin was later transferred to the intellectual property division, which led to Leong taking over the case.

The lawsuit, filed on May 9, involves 1MDB and its five subsidiaries – 1MDB Energy Holdings Ltd, 1MDB Energy Ltd, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd, Global Diversified Investment Company Ltd, and SRC International Sdn Bhd.

The five other companies involved are Affinity Equity International Partners Ltd, Alsen Chance Holdings Ltd, Blackrock Commodities (Global) Ltd, Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners Ltd, and Brightstone Jewellery Ltd.

The plaintiffs have named Rosmah and a woman identified as Shabnam Naraindas Daswani, also known as Natasha Mirpuri, as the first and second defendants, respectively.

They are seeking a court order for Rosmah to pay US$346,010,489 (RM1.56 billion) or an amount deemed appropriate by the court.

The plaintiffs are also seeking declarations that the first to sixth plaintiffs are the rightful owners of the luxury items, which are purportedly in Rosmah’s possession. - FMT