THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today fixed September 11 to hear two applications by Rosmah Mansor, one of which pertains to her seeking RM500,000 in security costs from Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL.

Global Royalty sued Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, on June 26 last year, seeking either the return of 44 pieces of jewellery sent to her for selection, or for her to pay the price of all the items, amounting to US$14.79 million (RM60 million).

Lawyer David Gurupatham, acting for the jeweller, told reporters that Rosmah also filed an application to get an expert to verify some of the items.

“The defendant filed two applications last Friday. Obviously, we need to respond to the applications and affidavits-in-reply,” he said after case management, which was held in chambers before judge Wong Chee Lin.

David said the plaintiff’s side will amend its statement of claim to reflect the changes, and the matter will also be heard on September 11.

He said the trial will proceed on September 17 as scheduled, and three witnesses will be called.

Meanwhile, lawyer Geethan Ram Vincent, representing Rosmah, said she is seeking RM500,000 in security costs, and has filed a separate application for an independent jeweller to assess four of the 44 pieces of jewellery, which the defence claimed are with police.

“We are seeking a sum of RM500,000 as security costs, but the plaintiff is objecting to the amount. However, they agreed to the appointment of an independent jeweller to assess the four items,” he said, adding that the defendant asked for security costs as the case involves a foreign company.

On February 14, the high court ordered Rosmah to check and confirm within seven days the existence of the 44 pieces of jewellery that were in her possession before they were seized by police.

In its suit, Global Royalty said on February 10 last year, it sent the 44 items, including diamond necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and tiaras, each worth between US$124,000 and US$925,000, to Rosmah via two agents.

It said during the delivery, Rosmah confirmed and accepted the terms and conditions in Memorandum No. 926 relating to the jewellery.

The company added that Rosmah, in a letter dated May 22 last year, confirmed and acknowledged receipt of the items, but said they were no longer in her possession, and might be with Malaysian authorities.

Global Royalty is seeking a court declaration that it is the owner of the 44 pieces of jewellery.

It is also seeking a mandatory order for Rosmah to provide a list of the items seized, and for the jewellery to be returned, or for the defendant to pay the price of the items. – Bernama, August 19, 2019.