DATIN Seri Rosmah Mansor is seeking to halt enforcement of a RM67.4 million High Court judgment pending her appeal, citing concerns that she would be unable to recover the money if the ruling in favour of Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL is overturned.
The application relates to the Kualal Lumpur High Court's decision on June 10, which ordered Rosmah to either return 43 pieces of jewellery delivered to her for "inspection" in 2018 or pay their estimated value of US$14.6 million (RM67.4 million).
Appearing for Rosmah, lawyer Reza Rahim argued that the plaintiff had not produced sufficient evidence of its financial standing to assure the court it could refund the judgment sum if the appeal succeeds.
"The plaintiff operates its business in Beirut, Lebanon, and there is no possible way for us to check its fiscal strength," he said.
"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."
Reza told the court that Rosmah had disclosed her financial position, including that she had only about RM100,000 in her sole bank account, while her remaining assets were frozen under an injunction granted in separate legal proceedings in 2024.
"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.
Counsel for Global Royalty Trading SAL, Venothani Rajagopal, opposed the application, arguing that Rosmah had failed to demonstrate any special circumstances warranting a stay of execution.
"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.
"Instead, the defendant only relies on one fact, that the plaintiff is incorporated in Lebanon.
"Foreign incorporation is not evidence of risk and speculation is not a special circumstance," she said.
Judicial Commissioner Marianne Ghani has fixed Aug 12 to deliver her decision on Rosmah's application for a stay of execution pending the outcome of the appeal. - August 5, 2026
