Did deputy minister lie about pink diamond, asks Umno Youth

(Reuters pic)

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth today questioned if a deputy minister had lied about the purchase of a US$23 million 22-carat pink diamond popularly linked to Rosmah Mansor, wife of the former prime minister Najib Razak.

The wing said a recent police statement about its investigations had contradicted the deputy minister’s earlier statement in the Dewan Rakyat.

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, strategic director of Umno Youth, said the police had stated that a money trail had proven that the jewellery had been purchased with 1MDB funds.

He pointed out that deputy minister Amiruddin Hamzah, however, had told the Dewan Rakyat that no purchase had taken place.

“Are the police trying to tell the rakyat that the deputy minister lied about the purchase of the pink diamond?” he said in a statement.

On Saturday, the head of the federal anti-money laundering division, Khalil Azlan Chik, said although the US$23 million diamond was not found during police raids last year, evidence suggested that the purchase involved a jeweller in New York.

Amiruddin Hamzah had stated in the Dewan Rakyat earlier that 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. The agent had also declared the items when taking them out of the country.

“So, no purchase happened because the agent had taken the jewellery out,” Amiruddin had said.

Wan Agyl said it was not the first time government agencies had contradicted each other since Pakatan Harapan won power last year.

“Such conflicting statements will see the people lose trust and confidence in the government’s abilities.” - FMT