The High Court (Insolvency Division) has officially declared fashion designer Datuk Jovian Mandagie bankrupt after he failed to settle a RM5.28 million debt owed to engineering and construction firm Cekap Air Sdn Bhd.
The ruling was delivered by Senior Assistant Registrar Muhammad Faisal Zulkifli following the approval of a creditor’s petition filed on 20 November 2023. The petition alleged that Jovian, a former son-in-law of ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, had committed an act of bankruptcy by not complying with a bankruptcy notice issued on 21 May 2023.
The total outstanding amount of RM5,284,340.66, inclusive of interest as of 21 May 2023, stems from a summary judgment issued by the High Court on 2 April 2023. The ruling compelled Jovian to repay the loan, which the court found to be enforceable under civil procedures.
Legal counsel for Cekap Air, Siti Nur Athirazatti Rohizad, confirmed that the bankruptcy notice was filed after Jovian defaulted on the terms set by the summary judgment. Upon receiving leave to proceed with the notice, the company moved forward with the creditor’s petition, which the court allowed on 3 July 2025.
Despite attempts to contest the proceedings, Jovian’s applications to set aside and stay both the bankruptcy notice and the creditor’s petition were dismissed by the court.
The loan in question, originally amounting to RM5 million, was the result of a verbal agreement between Jovian and Cekap Air director Yong Zhen Wei, according to court documents. The funds were transferred on 25 February 2022 to a law firm acting on Jovian’s behalf, which subsequently confirmed receipt as instructed.
Cekap Air initiated legal action against Jovian on 16 May 2023, citing failure to repay the friendly loan. The High Court’s earlier summary judgment on 2 April 2023 concluded in favour of Cekap Air.
Jovian has filed an appeal against the summary judgment in the main suit, which is scheduled to be heard on 15 September 2025.
-NST
