A police witness testifies that 12,009 pieces of jewellery seized from a Pavilion Residences unit in 2018 were valued at over RM443 million, as a civil suit over missing items proceeds.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court was told that 12,009 pieces of jewellery seized from a condominium unit at Pavilion Residences in May 2018 were valued at over RM443 million.
Assistant Commissioner Foo Wei Min from Bukit Aman’s anti-money laundering unit said the valuation of RM443,319,206.90 was determined by a commercial crime investigator with expert assistance between late May and June 2018.
Foo was testifying as the fifth witness for third parties in a civil suit filed by Lebanon-based Global Royalty Trading SAL against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor over the alleged loss of more than 40 pieces of jewellery during the raid.
The Inspector-General of Police and the Malaysian Government are named as third parties in this suit.
Foo explained that a police team raided the condominium unit on May 17, 2018, under a warrant linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd probe.
He detailed that the seized movable assets included 35 bags of cash in various currencies, six bags of watches, and 25 bags filled with jewellery.
Also confiscated were three bags of eyewear, a bag of wallets, and 284 boxes containing luxury handbags.
The witness stated that prosecutors later initiated forfeiture proceedings for all the seized items.
He added that Rosmah was asked to assist in investigations concerning the confiscated assets, including the jewellery.
According to Foo, Rosmah stated she had no knowledge of items being moved to Pavilion Residences from her Langgak Duta home.
He further told the court that she never claimed ownership and could not identify the items from clear photographs shown to her.
Foo testified that the Attorney General ordered the return of 9,554 jewellery items to Rosmah and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on April 26, 2022.
These items were returned to their representative from Messrs Azamuddin & Co on April 28 and 29, 2022.
He said a further 2,431 items were returned to Rosmah’s representative on Dec 9, 2022, after the High Court dismissed a related forfeiture application.
Global Royalty’s lawsuit, filed on March 29, 2023, alleges Rosmah falsely claimed 44 pieces of its jewellery were seized by authorities.
The company claims only one piece was retained by police, with the remaining 43 missing from custody.
Global Royalty asserts that Rosmah shifted responsibility to the government when the jewellery had actually gone missing.
The hearing before High Court judge Quay Chew Soon continues tomorrow.
