Rosmah’s RM67.5M Jewellery Judgment: Everything You Need to Know

What Is This Case About?

Global Royalty Trading SAL, a Lebanese luxury jewellery company, brought a civil lawsuit against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor — wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak — claiming that 44 pieces of jewellery worth USD14.57 million were handed to her in 2018 on consignment, but were never returned or paid for. The Kuala Lumpur High Court has now ruled in the firm's favour, ordering Rosmah to pay RM67.5 million in damages.

What Does 'Consignment' Mean Here?

A consignment arrangement means the items are loaned to a party for the purpose of viewing or potential purchase, but ownership remains with the original owner. In this case, the court found that Rosmah received the jewellery under such an arrangement — she was not given ownership, and had an obligation to either purchase the pieces or return them. She did neither.

What Happened to the Jewellery?

Of 44 pieces, only one — a diamond-encrusted emerald bracelet — has been recovered, returned to the jeweller after being seized in a 2018 police raid linked to the 1MDB investigation. The remaining 43 pieces are unaccounted for. Rosmah argued the police had seized all the jewellery, but the court dismissed her third-party claim against the Inspector-General of Police and the government.

What Happens Next?

Rosmah's lawyers have announced they will appeal the ruling and seek a stay of execution, meaning the RM67.5 million does not need to be paid immediately. If the appeal fails, the jeweller can pursue enforcement through asset seizure, garnishee orders, or — as a last resort — bankruptcy proceedings. Lawyers for Global Royalty Trading have made clear they will pursue all available options.