Khairuddin fails in bid to have Jho Low cross-examined in suit over Rosmah's necklace set (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has dismissed an application by former Batu Kawan Umno division chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan to get Low Taek Jho or Jho Low to take the stand in his lawsuit on the "pink diamond".
Khairuddin initiated the lawsuit to get former first lady Rosmah Mansor to return the 22-carat pink diamond necklace set which was allegedly bought using funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim ruled in chambers that there was no merit in the application to cross-examine Jho Low.
"The court agrees with the submission by Jho Low's lawyer Rishwant Singh that there is no need to cross-examine him at this juncture," Khairuddin's counsel Damien Chan told reporters outside the courtroom.
The application was dismissed with cost.
The court fixed tomorrow, May 17, for the hearing of Jho Low, Rosmah's and 1MDB's application to strike out the suit.
Khairuddin named Rosmah, Low and 1MDB as defendants in the suit filed over the 22-carat pink diamond, said to be worth US$23.7 million, and the necklace, which is estimated to be worth US$4.3 million.
In his suit, he claimed that Low acted through his agent, Eric Tan, to purchase jewellery from Lorraine Schwartz in New York for the sum of US$27.3 million, which is claimed to be from misappropriated 1MDB funds between June 2013 and March 2014.
He alleged that the jewellery was given to Rosmah sometime in March 2014 and that it should be returned to 1MDB, along with the money Low allegedly misappropriated from the firm.
He added that since Rosmah gave no consideration to the said necklace, she has no title in law or equity to it, meaning that 1MDB was entitled to have it back.
*US$1 = RM3.96