Swatch wins Malaysia suit over pride watch raid: report

SWISS watchmaker Swatch Group has won its lawsuit against the Malaysian government over last year’s controversial seizure of its Pride-themed watches in the South-east Asian nation, according to a Malaysiakini report.

The Malaysian High Court on Monday (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 Malaysian government seized the watches between May 13 and May 15 last year, but only gazetted its official ban on the timepieces in August, citing LGBTQ+ influences. Sodomy is a criminal offence in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation.

Swatch filed the suit in June last year, demanding the return of the 172 watches worth RM64,795 (S$19,590), 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, on principle, the ministry should respect the court’s decision,” he told journalists on the sidelines of a government event on Monday. BLOOMBERG