Rosmah seeks stay on RM67.4m ruling, cites RM100,000 bank balance and concerns over jeweller’s finances
KUALA LUMPUR — Counsel for Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor today sought a stay of execution on a court order requiring her to pay RM67.4 million to Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL, saying she has only about RM100,000 in her bank account and there is “simply no mechanism” to verify the Beirut-based firm’s financial standing.
Rosmah’s lawyer Reza Rahim said the plaintiff’s affidavit failed to provide any details of its bank accounts, available funds or other assets, leaving no evidence that it could guarantee repayment of the RM67.4 million if Rosmah succeeded on appeal.
“There are simply no mechanisms present for us to check the financial strength of the plaintiff in this situation, which is located in Beirut.
“So under such circumstances, how can we in the right mind now say we will put RM67 million in your hands and therefore you will be able to repay us back? There is just no evidence for that,” he said during today’s hearing, which was conducted via video conference.
Today was the High Court’s hearing of Rosmah’s application to stay the High Court’s decision from June 10 this year.
Reza also said his client had only one bank account, which court documents showed contained roughly RM100,000, while all her current assets were subject to an injunction order in a separate legal suit.
“What I want to show is that my client has been very candid by telling you what she has and what she doesn’t, as opposed to the plaintiff who has not done a single thing, including giving us even an undertaking to say I will pay you back,” he said.
Lawyer Venothani Rajagopal, representing Global Royalty, objected to Rosmah’s stay application, saying she had produced no evidence that the jeweller was “financially unsound” or intended to “dissipate” the judgment sum.
“There is no evidence before this court that the plaintiff is insolvent, that the plaintiff intends to dissipate the judgement sum, or that the plaintiff would be unable or unwilling to comply with the restitution order should the defendant ultimately succeed on appeal.
