The Sultan’s heirs failed to challenge France’s decision on the dispute with Malaysia

PARIS (Reuters) – France’s highest civil court on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by the former sultan’s heirs, drawing a line in a years-long legal battle with the Malaysian state.

The Filipino heirs of the last Sultan of Sulu won $14.9 billion in compensation in a French arbitration court in 2022 in a long-running dispute over a colonial-era land deal, prompting them to pursue Malaysian assets.

However, a Paris court later granted the Malaysian government’s claim to enforce the partial award. The Court of Cassation confirmed the decision on Wednesday.