Kuala Lumpur: 1MDB, SRC International Sdn Bhd and nine local and foreign entities linked to them have been given until June 4 to file their statement of claim in a suit brought against Rosmah Mansor and a fashion designer to recover a total of US$346 million (RM1.64 billion) in misappropriated funds.
Rosmah’s lawyer, Baharudeen Ariff, said judicial commissioner Adlin Abdul Majid gave the direction during case management today.
The 11 entities, named as plaintiffs, are suing Rosmah and Singaporean designer Shabnam Naraindas Daswani (also known as Natasha Mirpuri) for wrongfully using the funds to purchase multiple items, including jewellery and handbags.
Baharudeen said the judge also directed that Rosmah’s defence must be filed by July 4. The plaintiffs have until Aug 2 to file a reply to the defence.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Lee Shih, confirmed to FMT that his firm has yet to serve the writ on Shabnam.
The writ was filed in court on May 9.
The plaintiffs claim that the funds were channelled to their recipients through various offshore companies.
Apart from the claimed sum, the plaintiffs are seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages from the duo.
This is the second civil suit brought against Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak, in connection with the purchase of jewellery.
In an earlier suit, Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL is seeking the recovery of US$14.57 million in connection with 44 jewellery items shipped to her in February 2018. Rosmah contends they were seized by police and are no longer in her possession.
