KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 — The Paris Court of Appeal has annulled in its entirety the purported ‘Final Award’ from arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa granted on February 28, 2022, and ordered the so-called Sulu claimants to pay Malaysia €200,000 (RM957,140) in costs.
The Malaysian government's Sulu Special Secretariat War Room said that the Paris Court of Appeal delivered its ruling on December 9. The government received the court's official judgment overnight.
The court held that Stampa lacked jurisdiction to issue the ‘Final Award’, finding no valid arbitration agreement binding on Malaysia.
“As a result, the Court annulled the purported 'Final Award' in its entirety. Malaysia trusts that this victory will put an end to all the baseless attempts from the so-called Sulu claimants (and their litigation funder, Therium) to extort money and assets from the people of Malaysia,” it said in a statement today.
The War Room reiterated Malaysia’s stance to vigorously defend itself against any further legal action initiated by the so-called Sulu claimants.
The Paris Court of Appeal had already refused to recognise or enforce the purported ‘Partial Award’ on June 6, 2023. The French Supreme Court subsequently upheld this decision on November 6, 2024.
It concluded that the government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to defend the nation's sovereignty, immunity, and national interests against these baseless claims.
