KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): The High Court on Wednesday fixed April 3 to hear 1Malaysia Development Bhd and its four subsidiaries' bid to strike out the defence filed by Jho Low’s mother Puan Sri Goh Gaik Ewe pertaining to the government-owned company’s claim over jewellery worth US$1.695 million (RM7.9 million) allegedly bought with 1MDB funds.

Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz will hear the 1MDB application on that day, its counsel Siva Kumar Kanagasabai confirmed when contacted by The Edge.

The date was fixed by senior assistant registrar Haslinda A Raof following case management. The Edge is given to understand that Goh had not replied to the notice of interrogatories filed by 1MDB.

1MDB and its subsidiaries 1MDB Energy Ltd and 1MDB Energy (Langat) Ltd are claiming back the jewellery from Goh whose whereabouts are unknown. She is unrepresented as her previous lawyers from the firm Messrs Valen & Oh had discharged themselves.

Without her abiding by the notice via a written reply by affidavit, she would be barred from defending herself in the proceedings and the court could enter a judgment against her.

Goh filed her defence to the May 2021 suit in January 2022 wherein she claimed that she had entered into a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

However, 1MDB said the claims over the jewellery by Goh were not addressed in the documents linked to the settlement and hence the need for her to reply to the notice of interrogatories.

Since she had not replied to the notice after being given two weeks from January this year, 1MDB has applied to strike out her defence so that judgment can be entered against her.

The suit against Goh is part of 1MDB’s US$3 billion claim against Jho Low, his father Tan Sri Larry Low Hock Peng, his brother Low Taek Szen, his sister Low May Lin and close associate Eric Tan Kim Loong.

The claim against the six, whose whereabouts are unknown, are for fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misappropriation of funds and unjust enrichment among others.

The court had entered judgment against Jho Low, Hock Peng and Taek Szen.