1MDB judge recuses himself from RM680 million suit against Bustari firm
Advertisement
THE presiding judge in former prime minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial, Collin Lawrence Sequerah, has recused himself from hearing a RM680 million forfeiture suit by the government against Obyu Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Obyu Holdings is owned by Bustari Yusof, a close associate of Najib.
Putrajaya filed the forfeiture suit over the 11,991 items of jewellery police had seized from properties occupied by Najib’s family at the Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Sequerah informed lawyers of his decision to recuse himself in chambers today, during a hearing into an application by Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty SAL to inspect 44 pieces of the seized jewellery.
Also applying as third parties to stake a claim are Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and their children Nooryana Najwa and Norashman.
“Because he (Sequerah) has a tie (to both the 1MDB trial and the Obyu case), he feels that in the interest of justice, he will leave it to another judge as a finding here may have a bearing on the eventual trial,” said Global Royalty’s lawyer David Gurupatham.
Case management has been set for December 9 for a new judge to fix hearing dates on third party claims, inspection applications or the trial proper, said deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Shukri Hussain.
“The judge has chosen to recuse himself… on his own accord. He feels it is not proper for him to hear this matter, due to the third parties involved, who are Najib and Rosmah.”
Rosmah was today represented by Iskandar Shah Ibrahim while Syahirah Hanapiah appeared for Najib.
Among the items confiscated on May 17 last year and January 31 this year were 11,990 pieces of gold jewellery, 401 watches, 16 units of watch accessories, 234 pairs of sunglasses and 306 handbags, as well as cash amounting to RM114,164,393.44.
Global Royalty filed a suit against Rosmah on June 26 last year, seeking the return of 44 pieces of gold jewellery that had been sent to her for selection, or payment for the items totalling US$14.79 million (RM60 million).
The firm, owned by Lebanese-American Samer Halimeh, abruptly withdrew its suit against Rosmah last Tuesday.
The firm stated that it would instead focus on intervening in the government’s forfeiture proceedings against Obyu Holdings.
In the 1MDB trial, Najib faces four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount. The 66-year-old accused faces up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction. – November 1, 2019.