Malaysian Lawyer Dato’ David Gurupatham Leads Landmark RM67.5 Million Jewellery Recovery Judgment Against Rosmah Mansor
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — ( SP Tech Solutions ) — August 24, 2026 — Malaysian litigation lawyer Dato’ David Gurupatham has led the legal team representing Lebanese jewellery company Global Royalty Trading SAL in a closely watched civil dispute that resulted in a RM67,461,027.37 judgment against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 10, 2026, found Rosmah liable in relation to 43 pieces of jewellery that Global Royalty said had been delivered to her in 2018 on a consignment basis and were not subsequently returned. Judge Datuk Quay Chew Soon ordered payment of RM67,461,027.37, together with costs.
The case was brought by Global Royalty Trading SAL through David Gurupatham & Koay (DGK) after the company sought recovery of jewellery valued at approximately US$14.6 million. The dispute concerned 44 pieces originally supplied for viewing; one bracelet was subsequently recovered, leaving 43 pieces at issue in the civil claim.
A Significant Cross-Border Litigation Victory
The judgment represents the culmination of an approximately eight-year dispute surrounding the jewellery and the circumstances in which the items became unaccounted for.
Global Royalty founder Samer Halimeh publicly welcomed the June judgment, describing the outcome as vindication after years of litigation and allegations challenging the company’s claim.
Dato’ Gurupatham, who represented Global Royalty, said immediately after the judgment that the company intended to pursue the available legal mechanisms to recover the amount awarded, with bankruptcy proceedings described as a potential last resort if other enforcement avenues were unsuccessful.
The litigation has subsequently moved into its enforcement and appellate phase.
On August 12, 2026, Judicial Commissioner Marianne Antoinette Ghani granted Rosmah a conditional stay of execution pending appeal. The court ordered that the full judgment sum of RM67,461,027.37 be deposited into a joint stakeholders’ account operated by solicitors for both parties within one month. The arrangement was intended to protect Global Royalty’s position while preserving Rosmah’s ability to recover the funds should her appeal succeed.
The High Court further held that Global Royalty would remain entitled to take enforcement steps if the required deposit was not made in accordance with the order.
The Legal Issues Behind the Jewellery Dispute
At the centre of the litigation was the legal responsibility attached to jewellery delivered to Rosmah on a consignment arrangement.
Global Royalty maintained that the jewellery had been entrusted to Rosmah for viewing and that ownership remained with the Lebanese company because the pieces were not purchased. The company alleged that only one of the 44 pieces was ultimately recovered following separate forfeiture proceedings.
The dispute became particularly significant because the jewellery was among high-value items associated with a 2018 police operation at Pavilion Residences during investigations connected to the wider 1MDB scandal. Malaysian media reports from proceedings concerning the raid have described the recovery of thousands of jewellery items and other valuables from the premises.
The High Court ultimately found Rosmah liable for the missing 43 pieces and rejected her position that the jewellery had been seized by Malaysian authorities. The court also dismissed her indemnity claim against the police and government, meaning those third parties were not required to contribute to the judgment.
The case therefore illustrates the practical importance of bailment, custody, ownership and evidentiary responsibility in high-value commercial transactions, particularly where goods are transferred across borders for viewing or potential sale.
Dato’ David Gurupatham and Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
Dato’ David Gurupatham is the co-founder and managing partner of David Gurupatham & Koay, a Malaysian law firm with practices spanning litigation, international arbitration, corporate advisory and dispute resolution.
He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1992 and has more than three decades of legal practice. DGK’s reported work includes commercial litigation, international disputes, white-collar defence, employment matters and intellectual property disputes.
The firm has also developed a cross-border practice involving matters connected with jurisdictions including Singapore, India, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and mainland China.
Gurupatham’s professional profile extends beyond commercial litigation. He has participated in legal-aid and law-reform initiatives and has undertaken public-interest work involving indigenous customary land rights and access to justice.
Enforcement and the Road Ahead
The August 12 conditional-stay order marks the latest stage in the dispute rather than its conclusion.
Rosmah’s appeal remains pending, while the court-ordered deposit provides a mechanism intended to balance the competing interests of the successful claimant and the appellant.
For Global Royalty, the immediate issue is compliance with the deposit requirement and preservation of its ability to recover the judgment sum should the appeal fail. For Rosmah, the appellate process provides an opportunity to challenge the underlying judgment while the funds remain subject to the court’s safeguards.
The case is consequently being watched not only for its financial value but also for its implications for the treatment of consigned property, evidentiary burdens in civil litigation and enforcement of substantial judgments involving international parties.
About David Gurupatham & Koay
David Gurupatham & Koay (DGK) is a Malaysian law firm providing legal services in litigation, international arbitration, corporate advisory and dispute resolution. Founded in 2002, the firm represents clients in domestic and cross-border matters and has offices and operations spanning Malaysia and China.
Led by co-founders Dato’ David Gurupatham and Koay Eng Hooi, DGK has developed a practice covering commercial disputes, international arbitration, white-collar defence, corporate matters and public-interest work.
Media & Contact:
David Gurupatham & Koay
Email: david@dgklegal.com
Telephone: +603 7954 6733
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Media Note: This release is intended for editorial and informational purposes. The underlying civil judgment remains subject to the appellate process described above.