1MDB allowed to submit affidavit from Rosmah's shopping companion in US$346 million claim

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1MDB files affidavit on Rosmah

Highlights

The Court of Appeal allowed 1MDB to introduce a 300-page affidavit by Shabnam Naraindas Daswani in its US$346 million claim against Rosmah Mansor.
Shabnam's affidavit was submitted to support a Mareva injunction application to freeze Rosmah's assets up to US$346 million; Rosmah was ordered to pay RM30,000 in costs.
1MDB and 10 related entities are seeking the return of luxury goods or US$346.01 million in compensation in a lawsuit filed in June 2024 following the raid at OBYU Holdings.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Affidavit evidence admitted in 1MDB appeal

The Edge Malaysia reported that the Court of Appeal on Thursday allowed 1MDB to introduce as evidence in its suit a sworn affidavit of more than 300 pages by Shabnam Naraindas Daswani, a Singaporean who frequently accompanied Rosmah on overseas trips.

Justice Datuk Leonard David Shim, reading the decision of the three-member panel, said the High Court judge had erred in refusing to admit Shabnam's affidavit and that the Court of Appeal's intervention was warranted. The panel was chaired by Datuk Dr Alwi Abdul Wahab and also included Datuk Ismail Berahim.

The affidavit was submitted to support an application for a Mareva injunction against Rosmah—a court order preventing her from transferring, selling or concealing assets—as part of a claim worth US$346 million, or RM1.632 billion. Shim said an extension of time to admit the affidavit was justified given its considerable length.

In November 2025, the Kuala Lumpur High Court refused to allow 1MDB to submit the affidavit on the grounds that it had been filed late. The Court of Appeal also ordered Rosmah to pay costs of RM30,000.

Scope of the suit and background to the asset seizure

1MDB and 10 related companies are suing Rosmah, 75, over allegations that she bought jewellery, luxury handbags and other valuables from 48 vendors in 14 countries. Shabnam was initially named as a co-defendant with Rosmah, on allegations that she bought or obtained the luxury goods for her.

In April 2025, the suit against Shabnam was discontinued by consent order after she agreed to cooperate with Malaysian authorities to help recover the valuables. In June 2025, she swore the affidavit in support of 1MDB's application.

The plaintiffs, who filed the suit in June 2024, are seeking the return of the luxury goods, any traceable proceeds from them, and a declaration that Rosmah received them without consideration, allegedly in breach of her fiduciary or trust obligations. Alternatively, she is being asked to pay US$346.01 million in compensation for the cost of the luxury goods she received, with her assets frozen up to that amount.

The legal action followed the authorities' failed forfeiture application after a high-profile raid at a condominium owned by OBYU Holdings Sdn Bhd at Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur in May 2018. During the raid, police seized more than 12,000 pieces of jewellery, several hundred handbags and watches.

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