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Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been ordered by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to pay RM67,461,027.37 to a Lebanese luxury jeweller after failing to return 43 pieces of jewellery that were entrusted to her on a consignment basis
In a judgment delivered today, 10 June, High Court Judge Datuk Quay Chew Soon ruled in favour of Global Royalty Trading SAL Ltd, finding that Rosmah had failed to account for the whereabouts of the jewellery, which remained the company's property throughout.
The court ordered Rosmah to pay RM67.5 million within one month, along with 5% annual interest from the date of judgment until full settlement.
She was also ordered to pay RM75,000 in legal costs to the jeweller, while a further RM75,000 was awarded to the government and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The case centred on 44 pieces of jewellery worth USD14.57 million (about RM68.3 million)
According to Global Royalty Trading, the 44 items were delivered to Rosmah in 2018 for viewing on a consignment basis.
Only one item, a diamond emerald bracelet, was eventually recovered and returned, leaving 43 pieces unaccounted for, according to the New Straits Times.
In his grounds of judgment, Quay noted that several key facts were undisputed: the jewellery had been delivered to Rosmah, she received them for viewing, she neither purchased nor paid for them, and the vast majority were never returned.
The judge said those facts were sufficient to establish liability, adding that once delivery, possession and non-return had been proven, it was Rosmah's responsibility to explain what happened to the items while they were under her custody.
He also pointed out that Rosmah had previously acknowledged in earlier court proceedings that the jewellery was received on consignment and did not belong to her. As such, her later attempts to dispute the arrangement could not override those earlier admissions.
Global Royalty Trading managing director Samer Hassib Halimeh, together with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Image via Samer Halimeh New YorkRosmah had argued that the jewellery was seized during police raids linked to investigations into the 1MDB scandal in 2018
The wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is currently serving jail for his crimes, had sought indemnity from the IGP and the government.
However, the court rejected that claim, finding there was no evidence that the 43 missing pieces were ever seized by authorities.
The judge noted that only one jewellery item had been identified in forfeiture proceedings and subsequently returned to the plaintiff.
Quay further ruled that Rosmah had failed to prove that the missing jewellery was packed, stored, and later taken during the police operation, dismissing her third-party claim against the IGP and the government.
The court concluded that Rosmah had failed in her legal duty to safeguard and return the items entrusted to her, with the non-return of the jewellery amounting to prima facie negligence under the law.
