Lebanese Jeweller Claims Rosmah Borrowed RM60 Million Worth Of Gems To Wear If BN Won GE14
"The First Lady wanted to review the pieces on a 'try-before-you-buy' basis," which is a standard procedure for luxurious jewellery stores, said Samer Halimeh.
By Tamara Jayne — 06 Aug 2018, 01:26 PM
Chief executive officer (CEO) of international jewellery Samer Halimeh New York, who is suing Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor for not returning the company's jewellery, said they had lent the diamonds for her to wear if Barisan Nasional won GE14
Diamond jeweller Samer Halimeh together with Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Image via Samer Halimeh New YorkIn a statement reported by Malay Mail on 5 August, CEO of the Lebanese wholesale jeweller Samer Halimeh said he is "upset and saddened" that he had to take such legal action against the former prime minister's wife as he had a longtime friendship with the couple.
According to Halimeh, he first met the couple at a social event in Belgravia, London in 2009, which led to Rosmah buying jewellery from his company
"Between 2011 and 2015, the entourage of Rosmah Mansor purchased jewellery from Samer Halimeh New York, some of which was for themselves, some items as 'gifts' for the First Lady," said Halimeh.
The CEO remained in contact with Rosmah between 2015-2017, adding that he and his wife even attended the wedding of Rosmah's daughter Nooryana Najwa in 2015.
"Which is why by 2018, we trusted the relationship enough to provide Rosmah with 11.5 million pound sterling (RM60 million) worth of jewellery," he said, reported MalaysiaKini.
"The First Lady wanted to review the pieces on a 'try-before-you-buy' basis," which is a standard procedure for luxurious jewellery stores, added Halimeh
He went on to say that Rosmah's staff contacted his company Samer Halimeh New York earlier this year to deliver 44 pieces of diamond jewellery worth GBP11.5 million (RM60 million).
He believed Rosmah "wanted to wear some of the delivered jewellery at VIP events if her husband won the 2018 Malaysian general election, held on 9 May 2018."
All 44 pieces of the jewellery were later reported to have been seized by authorities for 1MDB investigations following the elections.
Halimeh said that the jewellery ordered by the former prime minister's wife ranged in price from GBP95,000 (RM504,233) up to GBP710,000 (RM3.8 million).
The haul included a diamond ring worth GBP710,000 (RM3.7 million), two diamond necklaces and matching earrings worth GBP515,000 (RM2.7 million), and another diamond necklace and earrings worth GBP450,000 (RM2.4 million).
Aside from Rosmah, Samer Halimeh New York's diamonds were said to have been worn by big-time celebrities such as, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, and Naomi Campbell
Last month, Halimeh, through his Beirut-based company Global Royalty, filed a lawsuit against Rosmah for the return of about RM60 million for the jewellery.
"All we are seeking is our jewellery collection being returned to its rightful legal owners, since the sale was never completed."
"This retail order might be for millions of pounds worth of stock, but just like any Net-a-Porter or Amazon order, it is mandatory procedure for a customer to return unwanted/unpurchased goods to the retailer, the principal is the same; hence the court case," said Halimeh, reported Free Malaysia Today.