KUALA LUMPUR – The court has allowed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Lebanese jewellery firm Global Royalty Trading SAL owner Samer Halimah to inspect 11,991 pieces of jewellery held in Bank Negara’s vault for safekeeping.
Lawyer David Gurupatham, who represented Samer, told Free Malaysia Today that judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin allowed for the inspection between October 25 and November 5, subject to Covid-19 standard operating procedure compliance.
“Last year, the judge had given two inspection dates but (the inspection) could not be carried out due to the pandemic,” he added.
The next case management is on November 8.
The valuables were among the items seized by police at a Pavilion Residences unit owned by Obyu Holdings Sdn Bhd in May 2018 as part of an investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Najib, Rosmah and Global Royalty are the third parties staking claim to the jewellery in the forfeiture application against Obyu Holdings, which is owned by Tan Sri Bustari Yusof.
On July 25 last year, Najib and Rosmah had inspected a total of 306 handbags, 401 watches, 16 watch accessories and 234 spectacles, which were also seized from the same premises.
In 2019, the prosecution filed a forfeiture application against Obyu Holdings to seize various items including 11,991 units of jewellery, 401 watch straps and 16 watch accessories, 234 pairs of spectacles, and 306 handbags, as well as cash in various denominations amounting to RM114,164,393.44. – The Vibes, September 9, 2021