KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has been instructed by the High Court to file her defence by July 4 in a US$346 million civil suit filed against her by the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

High Court deputy registrar S. Malarselvi during the case management today also ordered the sovereign wealth fund to file their statement of claim before June 4.

A statement of claim is a concise document filed by the plaintiffs (1MDB and its subsidiaries), outlining the facts, legal grounds, and relief sought in a lawsuit, serving to inform the defendant (Rosmah) and initiate the litigation process.

The plaintiffs claimed that the wife of the incarcerated former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, had used the funds to purchase luxury items such as jewellery, watches and handbags.

The plaintiffs named Rosmah and Shabnam Naraindas Daswani, also known as Natasha Mirpuri, as the first and second respondents, respectively.

According to the court document, the plaintiffs claimed Rosmah bought the luxury items not with her own monies but with funds misappropriated from the 1MDB.

The plaintiffs alleged that Shabnam acquired the luxury items on behalf of Rosmah.

"The funds were channelled through various offshore entities before being paid out to 48 different vendors.

"A total of 320 such payments totalling US$346,010,489 were made. The luxury goods represent the traceable substitute of the plaintiff's funds," claimed the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to compel Rosmah to pay US$346,010,489 or such other sum as to be assessed by the court.

They are also seeking damages or fair compensation to be determined by the court.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/05/1054736/rosmah-ordered-file-defence-july-4-1mdb-lawsuit