The Malaysian government is hoping that the Madrid Court will on Dec 11 sentence Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa who is facing charges of “unqualified professional practice” after controversially ordering Malaysia to pay US$14.92 billion (about RM70 billion) to self-proclaimed heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Azalina Othman Said said she was a little apprehensive about the trial because Stampa is a very influential individual...