The Malaysian government has expressed concern over attempts by certain parties to use guerrilla tactics to undermine the criminal case against Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa. The case is scheduled to begin in a Madrid court on Monday (Dec 11).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that Malaysia was concerned about any frivolous and vexatious attempts to disrupt the proceedings against Stampa.
Azalina described media reports over an alleged motion filed in connection with Stampa’s criminal case as a baseless and desperate move aimed at pressuring the Malaysian government as well as Spanish courts and Public Prosecutor.
It is unclear what the exact motion was filed by certain parties in Madrid Court, but it was widely seen as a legal attempt to undermine the prosecution’s criminal case against Stampa.
The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office has accused Stampa of suspected criminal offences and “unqualified professional practice” in connection with controversially ordering Malaysia to pay US$14.92bil to the self-proclaimed heirs of the defunct Sulu Sultanate last year.
Azalina said the “Government of Malaysia has the utmost respect for the Spanish courts and their rulings and categorically refutes any media reports suggesting otherwise.
She said Malaysia had full confidence in the Spanish judicial system in delivering justice to the 32 million Malaysians.
Azalina said the courts of Spain, France and the Netherlands have already confirmed Malaysia’s overall position concerning the Sulu case and the controversial Purported Final Award issued by Stampa on Feb 28, 2022.
The Spanish High Court had annulled Stampa’s appointment as arbitrator and ordered him to put an end to the proceedings because his only title to act as arbitrator was null.
“Stampa, who collected more than USD2.5 million from the alleged Sulu heirs (financed by a litigation funder, Therium), knowingly refused to comply with those orders,” Azalina said.
In June 2023, courts in France and the Netherlands declared that Malaysia never submitted to arbitration and, therefore, the arbitration should have never taken place.
Azalina said that the “Filipino Citizens’ attempts to enforce Stampa’s arbitral awards had failed as courts under these jurisdictions rejected it.
“These court rulings confirm that, since their very inception, the Sulu fraud and the purported arbitration has been nothing more than a well fabricated but completely flawed and baseless extortion attempt on the people of Malaysia.
“Malaysia shall ensure that the sovereignty, security and interest of Malaysia are protected and upheld at all times,” she said.
