KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — August 24, 2026 — A high-value jewellery dispute involving a Lebanese luxury-goods company and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has placed Dato’ David Gurupatham and Malaysia’s cross-border litigation practice in the international spotlight following a RM67.46 million High Court judgment.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 10 ordered Rosmah to pay RM67,461,027.37 to Lebanese jewellery company Global Royalty Trading SAL over 43 pieces of jewellery that the company said had been entrusted to her but were not returned.
The case was handled by Dato’ Gurupatham and his firm, David Gurupatham & Koay (DGK), on behalf of Global Royalty. The judgment followed years of litigation over the ownership, custody and disappearance of high-value jewellery supplied by the Lebanese company.
The dispute has since entered a new phase. On August 12, the High Court granted Rosmah a conditional stay pending appeal, requiring the full judgment amount to be deposited into a joint stakeholders’ account within one month. The order provides protection for the successful claimant while the appellate process continues.
From Consignment to Courtroom
The dispute traces back to jewellery supplied to Rosmah by Global Royalty for viewing and potential purchase.
According to the claimant’s case, 44 pieces with a combined value of approximately US$14.6 million were delivered on a consignment basis. One bracelet was subsequently recovered, while the remaining 43 pieces became the subject of the civil proceedings.
The litigation took on wider significance because the jewellery was connected to the 2018 police seizure of valuables from a Kuala Lumpur property during investigations linked to the 1MDB scandal. Evidence presented in related proceedings described a substantial quantity of jewellery being recovered during the operation.
Global Royalty’s position was that the specific pieces in its claim had not been returned and that Rosmah was responsible for them as the person to whom they had been entrusted.
The High Court ultimately found in favour of Global Royalty and ordered Rosmah to pay the company more than RM67 million.
A Case About More Than Jewellery
While the value of the missing jewellery attracted international attention, the underlying legal questions were broader.
The proceedings examined principles relating to bailment, custody, consignment arrangements, ownership and evidentiary responsibility.
For businesses involved in luxury goods, international trade and high-value consignments, the dispute highlights the importance of establishing precisely who assumes responsibility when property is transferred without an immediate sale.
It also demonstrates the challenges that can arise when commercial transactions intersect with law-enforcement investigations and subsequent civil proceedings.
The case therefore offers a significant Malaysian example of how traditional principles governing entrusted property can become relevant in complex, high-value and internationally connected disputes.
Gurupatham’s Role in Complex Litigation
For Dato’ David Gurupatham, the Global Royalty matter forms part of a broader practice focused on complex disputes and international legal matters.
Called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1992, Gurupatham has more than three decades of legal experience. He is co-founder and managing partner of DGK, a Malaysian firm whose practice includes commercial litigation, international arbitration, corporate advisory, white-collar defence and dispute resolution.
DGK has represented clients in matters involving multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore, India, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and mainland China.
The firm’s cross-border focus is particularly relevant to the Global Royalty dispute, which involves a Lebanese claimant, Malaysian proceedings and high-value assets connected to an international luxury-goods business.
Enforcement Becomes the Next Battleground
The June judgment did not end the dispute.
Rosmah’s subsequent application for a stay of execution led to the August 12 order requiring the judgment sum to be placed into a joint stakeholders’ account.
The conditional nature of the stay means that the judgment remains an important financial liability while the appeal proceeds. If the court-ordered deposit is not made in accordance with the conditions, Global Royalty may pursue available enforcement remedies.
Gurupatham has previously indicated that his client would consider all lawful enforcement avenues, including bankruptcy proceedings as a last resort, should the judgment remain unpaid.
The enforcement stage could therefore become another significant chapter in a case that has already tested Malaysia’s civil litigation system on questions involving substantial assets, international parties and contested custody of property.
Broader Legal Significance
The Global Royalty proceedings illustrate the growing complexity of disputes involving international commerce, luxury assets and politically prominent individuals.
They also demonstrate how a commercial claim can evolve into a multi-stage litigation process involving trial proceedings, enforcement applications and appellate challenges.
For Global Royalty, the judgment represents a major step toward recovery of property and value it says remained outstanding for years.
For the Malaysian legal sector, the case provides a prominent example of the role specialist litigation counsel can play when domestic courts are asked to resolve disputes involving foreign businesses and high-value international transactions.
As the appeal proceeds, attention will remain focused on whether the RM67.46 million judgment is ultimately upheld and how the court’s findings may influence future disputes involving consigned property and cross-border commercial relationships.
About David Gurupatham & Koay
David Gurupatham & Koay (DGK) is a Malaysian law firm founded in 2002 and led by co-founders Dato’ David Gurupatham and Koay Eng Hooi.
The firm provides legal services across litigation, international arbitration, corporate advisory and dispute resolution, with experience in domestic and cross-border matters.
DGK’s practice encompasses commercial disputes, international arbitration, corporate matters, white-collar defence, employment, intellectual property and public-interest work.
Media Contact:
David Gurupatham & Koay
Email: david@dgklegal.com
Telephone: +603 7954 6733
Website: www.dgklegal.com
This release is provided for editorial and informational purposes. The civil judgment remains subject to the applicable appellate process.
