Carpet dealer to testify in lawsuit against Wanita Umno leader tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — Controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan will take the stand tomorrow in his lawsuit against the government and a Wanita Umno leader’s company that allegedly cheated him by reselling a portion of land the carpet dealer had bought previously.

Deepak said he will personally conduct the case filed by his company. Astacanggih Sdn Bhd against the Wanita Umno leader, her companies, the Selangor Land and Mines Office and the Ministry of Defence for failing to hand over three parcels of land in Bukit Raja in Selangor totalling 223.33 acres to him.

“I am representing myself. I have evidence to how she stole my land,” he told reporters from news portals this evening.

The 40-year-old businessman (picture) had told The Malaysian Insider yesterday that he had written to government leaders and officials about the matter but has yet to receive a response. The police have also been dragging their feet, he added.

“I have been waiting five years to get my land and she just walks around like nothing has happened,” he said, adding that she failed to meet a November 25 deadline to repay him for deal.

Under the deal, Deepak said he had agreed to buy three parcels of land in 2007 for RM13 million with a RM72 million bank guarantee for a land bond from the Wanita Umno leader, who was awarded a RM100 million privatisation deal for the development of the defence research centre called Pusat Pengajian Pertahanan Nasional (PUSPAHANAS).

But he later found out she sold a portion of the land in a joint-venture agreement with a plasticware maker although the government was aware that Astacanggih had rights to the land.

He said Astacanggih had lodged a police report and placed a caveat on the land.

“Basically, they think they are above the law and can get away with breaking the law,” Deepak said.

The carpet dealer also revealed that the boards of directors in 26 privately-owned companies have asked him to resign from his position as his revelations have embarrassed them.

“They say I have lost the respect of the business community and my reputation has been diminished. I have agreed to their requests,” he said.

The companies include six carpet firms while the rest are mainly property developers, he added, saying he will still remain as a shareholder in those companies.

The businessman first came into the limelight two years ago over the statutory declaration of a private investigator in the 2006 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

But he said the revelations had caused him trouble, including two raids by the Internal Revenue Board that involved some 50 officers.

“They took away files, papers and checked everything and that affected my business,” he said.

Deepak said while he will fight to get his land, he has decided to leave Malaysia for Myanmar from December 10 to March 11 next year, when he celebrates his birthday.

“I believe in numerology and the period is bad for me until my birthday. After all, I am no longer a director of companies so I have nothing to do.

“I will try to do business in Myanmar while I am there. They have a strong leadership and they are not corrupt,” Deepak said, adding he might also try to find a wife there.