David Gurupatham says the message is designed to intimidate him as lawyer and his client in not pursuing their civil claim.
On June 26, Global Royalty filed a suit against the former prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, for the return of the jewellery, which included rings, necklaces, earrings and pendants. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A lawyer has vowed to file a defamation suit against the originator of a WhatsApp message that he is appearing for a fake Lebanese company to recover jewellery held by the police.
David Gurupatham said the irresponsible action had cast aspersions on him and his legal firm that they were interfering in police investigations.
“I am in the process of identifying the person responsible for this vicious WhatsApp message,” he told FMT.
The WhatsApp message, which has gone viral, claims Global Royalty Trading SAL did not exist in Lebanon or Beirut, based on a Google search.
It said the firm was fake but set up to retrieve 44 pieces of jewellery seized by the police.
The message states that the lawyer appearing for the company must be arrested to investigate the origins of their “clients”.
On June 26, Global Royalty filed a suit against the former prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, for the return of the jewellery, which included rings, necklaces, earrings and pendants.
The most expensive piece of jewellery listed in the lawsuit is a 16.5-carat cushion-cut diamond ring costing US$925,000 (RM3.75 million).
The company also said it had loaned Rosmah a diamond tiara worth US$575,000.
It also claimed that she had acknowledged receipt of the 44 pieces of jewellery on May 22.
However, the items sent to Rosmah in February are reportedly no longer in her possession after police seized jewellery, cash and luxury handbags to facilitate their probe into the 1MDB scandal in May.
Global Royalty is seeking a court declaration that it is the owner of all 44 pieces of jewellery. It also wants an order for Rosmah to return the items.
“Alternatively, if she cannot return all the jewellery, she is responsible for paying us the cost of the jewellery totalling US$14.8 million,” it said.
Gurupatham said his client was a legitimate entity of diamond trader Samer Halimeh, whose business includes a storefront in Starhill Gallery here.
The lawyer said he had a certificate to show proof that the company was genuine.
He questioned how a civil action to recover 44 pieces of jewellery could be seen as interfering in police investigations.
“The WhatsApp message is designed to intimidate me and my client not to pursue this civil claim.
“A defamation suit will follow once the culprit has been identified,” he said. - FMT
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