FASHION designer Datuk Jovian Mandagie was today declared bankrupt by the High Court (Insolvency Division) for failing to repay a "friendly loan" amounting to RM5.28 million to an engineering and construction company.
Senior assistant registrar Muhammad Faisal Zulkifli issued the order against the former son–in-law of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during a hearing of the creditor’s petition on Thursday.
Based on the petition, filed on Nov 20 last year, Jovian failed to comply with a bankruptcy notice dated May 21, 2024.
The petition said that Jovian owed Cekap Air RM5,284,340.66, inclusive of interest which was the sum payable under a summary judgment granted by the High Court on April 2, 2023.
Cekap Air's lawyer, Siti Nur Athirazatti Rohizad, said the bankruptcy notice was filed after Jovian failed to comply with the terms of the summary judgment.
“Jovian filed applications to stay and set aside both the notice and petition, but all were dismissed by the court,” she said.
On May 16, 2023, the company filed a lawsuit against Jovian, alleging that he had failed to repay a RM5 million loan extended on a friendly basis.
It stated that the loan was given out verbally and casually as the company's director, Yong Zhen Wei, and Jovian were acquaintances.
The company claimed it loaned Jovian the funds at his verbal request on Feb 25, 2022, and transferred the money to his law firm’s client’s account.
Jovian’s appeal against the summary judgment is scheduled to be heard on Sept 15.
ovian married Ismail Sabri's daughter, Nina, on Dec 11, 2013. They divorced in 2024. – July 3, 2025
