The legal saga between Malaysia and the claimants of the defunct Sulu Sultanate took a dramatic turn with the recent conviction of Spanish arbitrator Dr. Gonzalo Stampa. Known for his contentious ruling that mandated Malaysia to pay a staggering US$14.92 billion (RM70.19b) to individuals asserting themselves as heirs of the dissolved Sulu Sultanate, Stampa has now been found guilty of contempt of court by the Spanish judicial system.
Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, overseeing the Law and Institutional Reform Department within the Malaysian government, delivered the news, stating that Stampa has been handed a six-month prison sentence by the Spanish courts. Additionally, he faces a consequential one-year ban from practicing as an arbitrator, marking a significant blow to his professional career.
Azalina's remarks reflected the government's steadfast commitment to challenging what they have labeled the "Sulu Fraud." She praised the concerted efforts of the Madani administration in pursuing justice and reaffirmed their determination to overturn the Final Award. The nullification last year by the French Court of a directive aiming to mortgage a Malaysian Diplomatic building in Paris, orchestrated by a self-proclaimed Sulu group from the Philippines, served as a prior setback in the ongoing legal battle.
The Madrid Court's investigative actions against Stampa, as previously indicated by Azalina, underscore the gravity of the situation. Should Stampa be found guilty of the charges brought against him, he faces not just imprisonment but also substantial fines, emphasizing the severity of the contempt of court charges.
This recent development follows the initiative taken by eight individuals from the Philippines who, claiming to be heirs of the extinct Sulu sultanate, initiated arbitration proceedings in Spain. Their aim was to claim billions of US dollars from Malaysia concerning Sabah, leading to the appointment of Gonzalo Stampa as the arbitrator for the Sulu claimants' case by the Madrid Court in March 2019.
Stampa's conviction amplifies the Malaysian government's resolve to contest the legitimacy of the claims made against them. It marks a significant milestone in this protracted legal dispute, signaling the government's unwavering determination to defend its position and challenge the claims advanced by the Sulu Sultanate heirs.
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