SEREMBAN: Putrajaya’s disclosure that there was no purchase of a 22-carat pink diamond popularly linked to Rosmah Mansor does not negate the fact that it was bought with funds allegedly stolen from 1MDB, Rafizi Ramli says.
The PKR vice-president, who has been a vocal critic of the scandal-plagued fund, said no one questioned if the US$27 million diamond was purchased as a gift for Rosmah, as claimed by her husband, former prime minister Najib Razak.
He referred to an interview with Al Jazeera last October in which Najib said the diamond had been a gift from United Arab Emirates prince Sheikh Mansour, the brother of crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, who intended to present it to Rosmah.
“The issue is, who paid for it and whose money was used.
“Based on the filing by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), it is believed to have come from 1MDB funds,” he told reporters after a ceramah here last night.
The former Pandan MP said Najib could offer any excuse, but that it would be his word against the DoJ filing.
Earlier this week, Najib criticised those who claimed Rosmah had bought the diamond after it was confirmed in the Dewan Rakyat that no purchase had taken place.
Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah said a sales agent had brought in a pink diamond, along with other items of jewellery, for the “wife of a VVIP” and declared them with the Customs Department.
He said the sales agent had also declared the items when taking them out of the country.
But Rafizi compared the issue with that of superyacht Equanimity, which is linked to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.
He said if it was asked in the Dewan Rakyat who owned the US$250 million yacht, Low, better known as Jho Low, would not be named.
“This is because investigations revealed that it was purchased by an offshore company linked to Jho Low,” he said.
Wow I thought the Arabs love Lion but they actually love Hippo as well as in this case has proven.
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