THE Spanish Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed the cassation appeal of Gonzalo Stampa, the arbitrator who presided over the disputed Sulu claim against Malaysia, thereby affirming his conviction for contempt of court and sealing the final chapter of his criminal proceedings in Spain.
The decision, delivered on 8 October and received by the Malaysian Government today, confirms the ruling by the Madrid Criminal Court on 22 December 2023, which sentenced Stampa to six months’ imprisonment and barred him from acting as an arbitrator for one year.
In a statement, Malaysia’s Sulu Special Secretariat War Room said, “This final judgment reaffirms that adherence to lawful orders remains the cornerstone of both justice and the integrity of dispute resolution.”
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said welcomed the ruling as a landmark victory for the rule of law and for Malaysia.
“It demonstrates beyond doubt that the purported Sulu arbitration was the product of the unlawful and criminal conduct of a rogue arbitrator and vindicates the Government of Malaysia’s consistent position that the so-called award obtained by the Sulu claimants is null and void,” she said.
The ruling further reinforces Malaysia’s position, which has been upheld by courts across Europe—including Spain, France, and the Netherlands—concerning the illegitimacy of the claims brought by individuals purporting to be heirs of the long-defunct Sulu sultanate.
The government expressed its appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Cabinet, relevant ministers, and senior legal officials for their coordination and dedication in defending Malaysia’s sovereignty and legal standing throughout the prolonged and high-profile dispute.
It also acknowledged the work of the Sulu Special Secretariat War Room, the National Security Council, and Malaysia’s international legal counsel for their contributions to the legal effort.
“The Government of Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to defend Malaysia’s sovereignty, immunity and national interests against the baseless claims made in the Sulu fraud,” the secretariat added.
The arbitration case originated in 2019, when eight Philippine nationals, claiming descent from the former Sulu sultanate, initiated proceedings in Spain seeking billions of dollars in compensation from Malaysia over Sabah. The Madrid court controversially appointed Stampa as arbitrator—a move Malaysia has consistently challenged as unlawful.
Malaysia has since secured a string of favourable rulings, including from courts in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Spain, effectively invalidating the arbitration process and the substantial award claimed by the Sulu group. - October 16, 2025
