This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on September 4, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and their two children, Umno and Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL have indicated to the High Court that they will stake their claims in the RM680 million 1Malaysia Development Bhd forfeiture suit against Obyu Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Lawyers representing the four parties revealed this to High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah when the Obyu case was called up for case management yesterday.

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, appearing on behalf of Najib, told the court his client will come in as a third party, claiming certain currencies, mostly foreign, which are his client’s personal money, and also personal effects including watches, pens and various accessories.

In the action against Obyu, the government is seeking 11,991 pieces of jewellery, 401 watches, 16 units of watch accessories, 234 spectacles and 306 handbags seized by the police on May 17 last year, as well as cash amounting to RM114.16 million seized on Jan 31, 2019.

A property referred to as Lot PT80 here seized on Nov 1, 2018 is on the list of items sought as well.

Najib and Umno are seeking to claim monies, while Rosmah and her two children Nooryana Najwa and Norashman, as well as Global Royalty, are seeking to claim jewellery and other accessories, which are among 11,991 items the authorities want to seize.

Lawyer Nor Fazreen Hazrina Rahim, representing Umno, told the High Court the political party is seeking to claim RM1 million in cash. Datuk David Gurupatham, acting for Global Royalty, is seeking to claim several pieces of jewellery seized by the police.

According to Gurupatham, the jewellery is linked to the civil suit filed by his client against Rosmah to seek the return of 44 pieces of jewellery sent to her for selection or for her to pay the price of all the pieces amounting to US$14.79 million or almost RM60 million.

After the parties made known their intent to stake their claims, lawyer Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, appearing for Obyu, reiterated that Obyu objects to the main suit and will present its case.

Justice Sequerah then ordered all parties to file their applications and supporting affidavits for their claims before Oct 31.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Aaron Chelliah appeared on behalf of the government and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which initiated the forfeiture yesterday.