The Federal Court has refused to reinstate a High Court order granting a former air stewardess matrimonial assets worth approximately RM87.8 million — likely the highest sum awarded to a non-Muslim spouse in a judicial separation case.
A three-member bench led by Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim rejected the wife’s contention that the burden of proving all the matrimonial assets rested with her businessman husband.
In broad grounds delivered on Tuesday, Hasnah said the burden of proof has always remained with a claimant.
The Federal Court also affirmed the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the “duration of marriage” — used in determining the division of matrimonial assets — ends at the date of physical separation, not the date of the trial court’s decision, which may occur years later.
The panel, which…