KUALA LUMPUR (May 21): 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) on Tuesday obtained a judgement in default (JID) against Puan Sri Goh Gaik Ewe, the mother of fugitive Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), over its claim of US$1.695 million (RM7.9 million) worth of jewellery allegedly bought with 1MDB funds.
The JID was endorsed by High Court senior assistant registrar Haslinda A Raof on Tuesday, after High Court judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz struck out Goh’s defence last month, leaving her with no defence to the claim.
Haslinda also fixed Aug 4, 5, 14, and 15 as trial dates for 1MDB and its subsidiaries' claim against Jho Low’s close associate Eric Tan Kim Loong and his sister Low May Lin, which will be heard by Hayatul Akmal.
The outcome was confirmed by 1MDB’s counsel Siva Kumar Kanagasabai from Messrs Skrine when contacted by The Edge on Tuesday.
On April 3, Hayatul Akmal struck out Goh’s defence that she filed in January 2022, after the court allowed 1MDB along with its subsidiaries 1MDB Energy Ltd and 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd to serve the notice that contained nine questions about the jewellery.
Goh, whose whereabouts are unknown, did not reply to the notice within the stipulated two-week period.
In her statement of defence, Goh argued that she had entered into a settlement with the US Department of Justice, but 1MDB contended that the claims over the jewellery from Goh were not addressed in the documents linked to the settlement.
Following this, 1MDB applied to strike out her defence, which was allowed by Hayatul Akmal, and following that, the JID was entered on Tuesday.
A JID is a judgement that is given to the plaintiff (in this case, 1MDB) when the defendant fails to answer to what is claimed.
The action against Goh is part of the US$3.78 billion suit filed by 1MDB and its subsidiaries in May 2021, where Jho Low, his father Tan Sri Larry Low Hock Peng, his brother Low Taek Szen, his sister May Lin, and close associate Tan, were named.
The claim against the six, whose whereabouts are all unknown, are for fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misappropriation of funds, and unjust enrichment, among others.
The court had entered judgement against Jho Low, Hock Peng, and Taek Szen in November last year.
A sum of almost US$2.8 billion in judgement was entered on Jho Low alone, while another sum of US$983 million was entered against Jho Low and his father. Separately, Taek Szen was required to come up with US$27.5 million.
The court had also imposed a Mareva injunction (an asset-freezing order) against Jho Low and Hock Peng. Their failure to abide by the injunction resulted in a jail sentence imposed by Hayatul Akmal.
1MDB and its subsidiaries had filed a multi-billion suit against Tan, whom the companies claimed is considered a constructive trustee of the assets claimed. It is also seeking US$3.5 million against May Lin.
Read also:
Court strikes out Jho Low mother's defence in US$1.7m jewellery claim by 1MDB
Court allows 1MDB units to question Jho Low's mum in relation to US$1.7m jewellery
1MDB secures judgement in default against Jho Low, his brother Taek Szen and father Hock Peng
1MDB gets court order to sentence Jho Low and father to prison for not obeying asset-freezing order