Kuala Lumpur: Rosmah Mansor is seeking to suspend a US$14.6 million judgment pending her appeal after being ordered to pay the sum to a Lebanese company that sent her 43 pieces of jewellery for “inspection” in 2018.
Her lawyer, Reza Rahim, told the High Court here that the amount was “very substantive”, amounting to around RM67.5 million when converted.
He also said Rosmah doubted she would be able to recover the money from Global Royalty Trading SAL if her appeal succeeded.
“The plaintiff operates its business in Beirut, Lebanon, and there is no possible way for us to check its fiscal strength (for possible repayment),” Reza added.
He also told the court that Rosmah’s bank account, which held around RM100,000 in deposits, and other assets had been frozen under a court order in 2024.
“She has been very candid by telling what she has and what she doesn’t,” Reza quipped.
However, lawyer Venothani Raja Gopal, appearing for the jeweller, objected to Rosmah’s application for a stay, arguing that she had produced no evidence to show Global Royalty was “financially unsound” or intended to “dissipate” the judgment sum.
“Speculation is not grounds for special circumstances (to suspend the sum),” she added.
Judicial commissioner Marianne Ghani fixed Aug 12 to deliver her decision on whether to grant the stay of execution.
On June 10, High Court judge Quay Chew Soon allowed the suit filed by Global Royalty against Rosmah, seeking the return of all 43 jewellery items or payment of their estimated value of US$14.6 million.
