Nov 28 hearing of Rosmah's US$1m security for costs bid against jeweller

The civil court has set Nov 28 to hear Rosmah Mansor’s application for Global Royalty Trading SAL to deposit US$1 million (RM4.58 million) as security for costs in the event that the Lebanese jewellery firm fails in its RM67.46 million lawsuit against her.

Counsel Rajivan Nambiar, representing the wife of incarcerated former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, said that the Kuala Lumpur High Court set the hearing date during the case management earlier today.

“(The court has) fixed for hearing (Rosmah’s) application for security for costs on Nov 28 before (judge) Ong Chee Kwan,” the lawyer told Malaysiakini.

Rajivan added that the civil court also set Oct 26 for case management of Global Royalty’s application for summary judgment (court decision against Rosmah without full trial).

An order for security for costs protects a party - such as defendant Rosmah - against the risk that they will win at trial and be awarded their costs, but then not be able to enforce a costs order against the other (losing) party, either within the jurisdiction or abroad.

In her security for costs application, Rosmah contended that there is a need for Global Royalty to deposit the US$1 million with the civil court because the company is incorporated in Lebanon, which is outside this country’s judiciary jurisdiction.

Clutching her pearls

In April, Global Royalty refiled the RM67.46 million civil action against Rosmah over the allegation that the jewellery was sent to the defendant for viewing purposes.

Previously in 2019, the firm filed a suit for 44 pieces of jewellery worth US$14.79 million or almost RM60 million but withdrew it later, with the firm having secured the return of one of the items.

The present civil action is only over 43 jewellery pieces, as the Malaysian authorities have returned one of the pieces to Global Royalty.

Back in mid-2018 following the 14th general election, the police raided the Pavilion condominium in Kuala Lumpur where Najib and Rosmah were residing and took away several items which included a jewellery piece from the Lebanese firm.

Law firm David Gurupatham & Koay is acting for Global Royalty. - Mkini