KUALA LUMPUR (May 24): The High Court has directed 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), SRC International Sdn Bhd and nine other companies linked to them to file their statement of claim (SOC) by June 4 in their US$350 million (RM1.65 billion) lawsuit against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
The 11 entities are suing the wife of jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over luxury goods that were allegedly obtained through misappropriation of the companies' funds.
Lawyer Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff, who appeared for Rosmah during case management on Friday, confirmed the matter when contacted.
Rosmah has also been directed to file her statement of defence by July 4. However, Mohamed Baharudeen said this depends on the plaintiffs' SOC and the absence of any interlocutory applications relating to Rosmah's legal right.
"Hence, the court has fixed the next case management on June 14 to enable us to inform the court our position after perusing the SOC," he added.
The 11 plaintiffs claim that monies from the companies were channelled to various offshore entities, and later paid to 40-odd vendors in 14 jurisdictions for the luxury items.
They claim that there were a total of 320 such payments totalling US$346,010,489.
Rosmah is sued along with Shabnam Naraindas Daswani (also known as Natasha Mirpuri), who the companies claim purchased or procured the luxury items for her.
The plaintiffs, represented by Lim Chee Wee Partnership, also claim that the goods sought were all “traceable substitutes” of 1MDB and its subsidiaries’ trust property. Therefore, they have an equitable proprietary interest in the luxury goods.
They are asking Rosmah to return any of these items in her possession, and to pay a sum of US$346,010,489, or an amount to be assessed by the court. They also want Shabnam to pay them a sum to be determined by the court.
They are also seeking damages or fair compensation to be determined by the court.
(The story has been amended for accuracy.)