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Swiss watchmaker Swatch has won a case against Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs over the recent seizure of 172 Pride-themed watches. The Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the department on Monday to return the watches within 14 days of its ruling, saying the seizure – which took place in May 2023 – was illegal as it was carried out without permission. Judge Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh noted that the Department had enforced its ban on Swatch Pride-themed watches in August 2023, meaning the watchmaker had not broken any laws at the time of the attack. While Swatch won the case, the court did not award the Swiss company the 64,795 Malaysian ringgit ($14,600) it had sought in the June 2023 filing for substantial and exemplary damages. However, Swatch can still claim it later if it discovers that the seized items were damaged during the raid. Under Malaysia’s ban, anyone caught in possession of an LGBTQ-themed Swatch watch could face up to three years in prison and a 20,000 Malaysian ringgit ($4,500) fine.
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