Rosmah said she was occupied with campaigning for her husband, then prime minister Najib Razak, during the period, and that the jewellery was kept locked in a safe by her butler.

“I had no intention of using the jewellery. I only kept them so as not to offend Samer, who was introduced to me by one of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s wives,” she said.

She was referring to Samer Hassib Halimeh, the founder of Global Royalty Trading SAL.

In 2023, Global Royalty filed a suit seeking the return of 43 jewellery items, or the sum of US$14.6 million, their purported value.

One jewellery item was returned to the company by the police in 2022.

Rosmah said that following Barisan Nasional’s defeat in the election, the family was required to vacate the prime minister’s official residence immediately.

“All the items we had in Seri Perdana were transferred out, including the 44 pieces of jewellery, to Pavilion Residences, a temporary location for storing the items,” she said.

She said that shortly after moving out of Seri Perdana, police conducted a raid on the Pavilion Residences unit and seized all the items.

“We were not there (at Pavilion Residences) when the raid happened,” she said.

Rosmah said that when she went to inspect the jewellery later, many items were “missing”.

Asked by senior federal counsel Liew Horng Bin, appearing for the police, whether she took part in the moving out process, Rosmah said she was not involved.

“They just did it. I wasn’t even allowed in,” she said.

Cross-examined further by Liew, Rosmah denied that the items seized from the Pavilion Residences unit had been transferred there from her Langgak Duta home.

She also denied that the transfer of items was intended to evade detection by the authorities.

Earlier, Samer said Rosmah ought to be held responsible for the 43 “missing” items.

He said Rosmah had claimed the jewellery was seized by the police.

Pressed by Rosmah’s lawyer, Rajivan Nambiar, on whether he acted voluntarily in sending the 43 pieces of jewellery for her viewing “with the hope that she could help you attract more customers”, Samer disagreed.

Several current and former police officers are expected to testify on behalf of the police, whom Rosmah has brought in as a third party to the proceedings.

Rosmah is seeking indemnity or contribution from them against any liability she may incur to Global Royalty.

The hearing before Justice Quay Chew Soon continues tomorrow.