This came about after High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is presiding over the corruption trial of Najib Razak, disqualified himself from hearing the application.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Shukri Hussain confirmed that Sequerah had recused himself after a case management with lawyers in his chambers today.

“The judge was of the opinion that it is inappropriate for him to hear the forfeiture application as he is presiding over the 1MDB trial,” Shukri told reporters.

The next case management will be before a new judge on Dec 9 to hear the relevant application by the defendant, Obyu Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor, Umno, and Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL have been made third parties in the government’s forfeiture application against Obyu, which is owned by Bustari Yusof, a close associate of the former prime minister.

The government filed the forfeiture suit against Obyu Holdings over the 11,991 items of jewellery that police had seized from properties occupied by Najib’s family at the Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur.

Umno is seeking to claim RM114.2 million in cash seized by the authorities on Jan 31.

Najib is seeking to claim certain amounts of foreign currency as well as pens and watches as the items are said to be his personal belongings.

Rosmah and her two children, Nooryana and Norashman, said they want to claim certain items of jewellery as well as accessories.

Global Royalty Trading SAL is also seeking the return of 44 pieces of jewellery worth about RM60 million.