1 week Ago By Rahmat Khairulrijal
KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) today withdrew a civil suit filed against a Singaporean woman, Shabnam Naraindas Daswani also known as Natasha Mirpuri. Shabnam, named as the second defendant, was sued by the company on May 9 last year together with Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor for allegedly amassing a collection of jewelry, handbags, and other luxury goods worth US$346 million using its funds. Shabnam's lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan, when confirming this said the decision was made during an online proceeding before High Court Judge Wan Muhammad AMin Wan Yahya today.
He said the court recorded a consent judgment whereby 1MDB and the other plaintiffs discontinued the claim against Shabnam, with liberty to file afresh. He added that the court did not make any order as to costs.With this development, the wife of incarcerated former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak remains the sole defendant in the civil suit.
The plaintiffs include 1MDB and its five subsidiaries - 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited, 1MDB Energy Limited, 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited, Global Diversified Investment Company Limited, and SRC International Sdn Bhd. Other plaintiffs are offshore entities — Affinity Equity International Partners Limited, Alsen Chance Holdings Limited, Blackrock Commodities (Global) Limited, Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners Limited, and Brightstone Jewellery Limited. The company claimed that a total of 320 payments totalling US$346,010,498 were made to 48 different vendors in 14 countries between 2010 and 2014.
The 14 countries are British Virgin Islands (one), Hong Kong (nine), India (four), Indonesia (two), Italy (three), Lebanon (three), Mauritius (one), Panama (one), Singapore (one), Thailand (two), United Arab Emirates (seven), Turkey (two), the United Kingdom (two) and the United States (seven). The plaintiffs claimed its funds which were to be utilised for investments in various ventures were instead wrongfully or fraudulently transferred out to entities registered in offshore jurisdictions which had no connection with or served no legitimate purpose in relation to the purported investment objectives. The company asserted that the funds were routed through numerous offshore entities and bank accounts controlled by individuals, including Najib and his associates.
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. On May 10, 2022, 1MDB filed a combined total of 22 civil suits against various parties, including Najib to recover RM96.
6 billion in assets. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
