Swatch wins Malaysia suit over Pride watch raid: Media
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The Malaysian High Court ordered the Home Ministry to return the watches within 14 days.
PHOTO: SWATCH.COM WEBSITE
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KUALA LUMPUR – Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group has won its lawsuit against the Malaysian government over 2023’s controversial seizure of its Pride-themed watches
The Malaysian High Court on Nov 25 ordered the Home Ministry to return the watches – a series of timepieces with rainbow wristbands that came in six colours – within 14 days, after a judge ruled the seizure illegal.
“The search was made without a warrant and is illegal. Therefore, any seizures made as stated in notices of seizure are illegal,” Justice Amarjeet Singh said in his brief judgment.
Justice Amarjeet did not make any order for costs or damages but said that Swatch Group could file a separate legal bid for compensation if the watches were damaged.
The Malaysian government seized the watches between May 13 and May 15 in 2023 following raids on 11 Swatch outlets across the country, but gazetted its official ban on the timepieces only in August 2023
Sodomy is a criminal offence in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation.
Swatch filed the suit in June 2023, demanding the return of 172 watches worth RM64,795 (S$19,600) and claiming that the seizure was illegal.
Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution said he would study the report on the judgment before making a decision on the government’s next move.
“My initial reaction is, in principle, the ministry should respect the court’s decision,” he told journalists on the sidelines of a government event on Nov 25. BLOOMBERG, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
