Luxury Goods Worth Over US$346 Million: 1MDB, 10 Companies Sue Rosmah

KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and 10 other companies have filed a lawsuit against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor regarding the purchase of luxury goods totaling over US$346 million allegedly obtained from misappropriated 1MDB funds.

In addition to 1MDB, the lawsuit filed yesterday in the High Court here through Tetuan Lim Chee Wee Partnership also lists five of its subsidiaries as plaintiffs, namely 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited; 1MDB Energy Limited; 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited; Global Diversified Investment Company Limited; and SRC International Sdn Bhd as the first to sixth plaintiffs.

The five other companies are Affinity Equity International Partners Limited; Alsen Chance Holdings Limited; Blackrock Commodities (Global) Limited; Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners Limited; and Brightstone Jewellery Limited as the seventh to eleventh plaintiffs.

All plaintiffs name Rosmah, also the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and a woman named Shabnam Naraindas Daswani (also known as Natasha Mirpuri) as the first and second defendants.

In the lawsuit, all plaintiffs claim that the aforementioned luxury goods including jewelry, watches, and handbags were purchased or acquired by Rosmah or the second defendant not with her own money but with funds misappropriated from the first to sixth plaintiffs.

“The funds were channeled through various offshore entities including the seventh to eleventh plaintiffs before being paid to 48 different vendors for the purchase of all these luxury goods and a total of 320 payments totaling US$346,010,489 were made,” according to the statement of claim.

Therefore, all companies, among other things, demand that Rosmah pay US$346,010,489 or a sum estimated by the court.
All plaintiffs also request an order for Shabnam to pay damages or compensation to be assessed later.

In addition, the plaintiffs also seek declarations including that the first to sixth plaintiffs have rights to the luxury goods which are now claimed to be in Rosmah’s possession.

Also sought are aggravated damages, exemplary damages, costs, and other reliefs deemed appropriate by the court.
Management of the lawsuit is scheduled for May 24.