Whistleblower unhappy with reply on the 'Rosmah' ring

The explanation in Parliament on the RM24 million diamond ring brought into the country is unsatisfactory, as it does not explain the "mystery" surrounding its import, says former PKR central committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

“I am not satisfied (with the replyby Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz); and it does not answer the mystery behind the ring,” said Badrul, who was the whistleblower in the ring that he alleges had been ordered by the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.

Badrul (right), who heads a youth group called Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), says the parliamentary reply proves that he has a case in lodging a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Jul 13 toinvestigate the matter.

“So MACC after this reply should have enough evidence to prove that the document (that I had furnished them) is authentic, otherwise they would not have questioned the cargo company officer A Krishnan till the wee hours of the morning in their investigation,” he said in an email today.

SAMM and Badrul, who is also known by by blog name Chegubard, lodged a report with the MACC in Penang on July 13 on the alleged purchase of the diamond ring by Rosmah.

Badrul had said then that based on information received by the group on April 16, the “Natural Fancy Gray Cushion Cut Diamond” ring tagged at RM24,458,400 was flown in via the KL International Airport.

“The item was purchased through a fine jewellery company - Jacob & Co - based in New York, and brought to Malaysia by one Jeremy Beh Sin Tee," Badrul had said then, and that the Customs document stated Rosmah as the receiver of the item.

In a written reply to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in Parliament today, Nazri said that the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) has confirmed the existence of the controversial diamond ring.

However, Nazri said the ring was not purchased after it was brought into the country, and added, “After a few days, the ring was returned to the company which owns it."

'Imelda of Malaysia'

Badrul pointed out that the Customs document also stated that the item was tax free, and demanded MACC to investigate the reason behind this.

“Did Rosmah's husband - Najib - use his power as finance minister to obtain the tax-free status?” he had said at the time.

He has likened Rosmah to the spendthrift former Filipino first lady Imelda Marcos, saying that such luxury living contradicted the fact that ordinary Malaysians were suffering from the rising cost of living.

“What about a bracelet worth RM1.65 million that was sold by the same company (New York jeweller Jacob & Co that is behind the diamond ring) that is being worn by Rosmah?” Badrul asked today.

“This coming Monday, SAMM will distribute 25,000 brochures about the ring and other spendthrift habits,” he added.