KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — The federal government today failed to get the High Court to approve the forfeiture of thousands of pieces of jewellery, luxury watches and handbags confiscated from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor during raids at the upscale Pavilion Residences condominium in 2018.

Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had failed to prove that the valuables were linked to 1MDB funds, news portal Free Malaysia Today reported this morning.

Prosecutors had filed an application to forfeit 2,435 pieces of jewellery, seven wristwatches and 29 handbags seized from the condominium unit on May 17, 2018 that Najib and Rosmah had claimed as theirs.

The prosecutors told the court they will be filing an appeal of the decision and asked for a stay so the authorities can continue keeping the confiscated items.

But the judge rejected their request.

"There is no need for the court to make a ruling on the third party claimants,” Muhammad Jamil was quoted saying, referring to Najib and Rosmah.

Najib has been convicted of stealing RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

He is currently serving his 12-year jail sentence for it at Kajang Prison but is still on trial for a slew of other cases related to 1MDB.

Rosmah has also been found guilty of soliciting and accepting RM194 million bribes related to a RM1.25 billion government contract to supply energy to rural schools in Sarawak on September 1.

She was sentenced to 10 years’ jail and fined RM970 million but is appealing.