KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has taken a firm stand before the French Court of Cassation — France's highest judicial body — in its ongoing legal battle against claims made by the alleged heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said affirmed that Malaysia presented a robust defence in court to reinforce its sovereignty.
"Malaysia demonstrated and fortified the soundness of its June 2023 victory," she said in a statement.
The case concerns a challenge by the Sulu claimants against a decision made by the Paris Court of Appeal on June 6, last year.
The court ruled against the recognition of a partial award issued by Dr Gonzalo Stampa, rejecting his authority to arbitrate the matter.
"Malaysia has been successful in protecting its interests worldwide. In this regard, it will continue to fight the battle against the Sulu fraud in other jurisdictions involved, including in Spain and Luxembourg", Azalina said.
In January, Spanish arbitrator Dr Gonzalo Stampa was found guilty of contempt of court after his contentious ruling that Malaysia must pay US$14.92 billion to the self-declared heirs of the former Sulu Sultanate.
Previously, a court in Madrid, Spain appointed Gonzalo as the arbitrator for the Sulu claimants' case in March 2019.
Eight citizens of the Philippines, claiming to be heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate, had filed for arbitration proceedings in Spain to seek billions of US dollars from Malaysia over Sabah.