KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): The High Court will hear on Nov 28 Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's application for jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL to deposit US$1 million as security for costs in an ongoing lawsuit between the two.

The matter will be heard before judge Ong Chee Kwan.

Rosmah's counsel Rajivan Nambiar confirmed this with The Edge when contacted, adding that the date was decided following a case management on Monday.

The wife of imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had filed the application, arguing that if she was successful in the suit, she would have trouble seeking costs from Lebanese-based Global Royalty as it is outside the jurisdiction of the Malaysian courts, and Malaysia does not have a reciprocal enforcement judgement in Lebanon.

Rosmah is seeking for the court to decide on this issue first and, if the application is allowed, for the jewellery company to pay the security costs of US$1 million or its equivalent in Malaysian ringgit within 14 days of the court order.

Meanwhile, Rajivan also said Global Royalty's application for the court to enter a summary judgement against Rosmah has been set for another case management on Oct 26.

Global Royalty filed the application on the grounds that Rosmah had failed to return or pay the amount sought and that there is no meritorious defence in her defence statement.

A summary judgement can be applied or entered under Order 14 of Rules of Court 2012 by the plaintiff after the defence statement is filed, if it is found that there is no proper defence.

These applications are part of the ongoing lawsuit by the Lebanese firm against Rosmah for breach of contract over 43 pieces of jewellery which are allegedly missing following a raid by the authorities in 2018.

Global Royalty had refiled the US$14.57 million (RM67.46 million) suit in April this year against Rosmah for the pieces of jewellery which were despatched to her in February 2018.

The firm only managed to recover one item among the 12,000 pieces of jewellery seized: one diamond bracelet worth US$220,000.

In her statement of defence, Rosmah, 71, had said there were companies like Global Royalty which sought publicity for their products, and wanted her to be their customer. She added that items would be sent to her to attract buyers and she was not obligated to purchase them.

Rosmah also said that if the 43 pieces of jewellery were lost, the police or the Malaysian government should be made responsible for the losses.

In its reply, the firm had said that it was a "well-established and renowned jeweller" operating internationally and did not need additional publicity from Rosmah.

Global Royalty is represented by Messrs David Gurupatham and Koay.

Read also:
Lebanese firm refiles missing jewellery suit against Rosmah
Rosmah says Lebanese firm has no right to sue her in Malaysia
Lebanese jewellery firm says it doesn't need 'additional publicity' from Rosmah
Rosmah applies for Lebanese firm to pay security costs to court, while firm seeks summary judgement