Pua: Najib confusing public over diamonds
PUCHONG: Backbencher Tony Pua accused former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of confusing the public over diamonds owned by the latter’s wife, Rosmah Mansor.
In claiming their innocence, Najib had taken to Facebook, highlighting Deputy Finance Minister Dato Amiruddin Hamzah’s reply in Dewan Rakyat.
Amiruddin had said that the diamond was brought in and out by a sales and that meant there was no purchase on a pink diamond done by a certain VVIP.
Two jewel company have confirmed displaying their products – Jacob & Co from United States of America and Global Royalty Trading SAL of Lebanon.
In rebutting Najib’s claim, the DAP lawmaker said that Amiruddin was not referring to the diammonds that have become part of the 1MDB scandal.
“Instead, what of was public interest was the “22.17-carat Natural Fancy Intense Pink VS2 clarity (GIA#2115637296) Cut-Cornered Square Modified Brilliant Cut diamond”, said Pua.
“This jewel was detailed in the US Department of Justice’s court filing “No. CV 17-4438 Verified Complaint For Forfeiture In Rem” in the case “United States of America, V. Certain Rights To And Interests In The Viceroy Hotel Group” on June 15, 2017.”
“On board the Topaz, Schwartz had shown the jewel to Low, Rosmah and their associates. They discussed the design of the necklace that will attach the 22-carat pink diamond,” he said in reference
“On Sept 28, 2013 Schwartz met Low and Rosmah again at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York to show them pictures of the necklace design,” said Pua.
Two invoices were allegedly issued – One worth US$23 million for the diamond and the other at the price of US$4.3 million for a “one graduate fancy intense pink and oval white diamond necklace with interchangeable pendant to ring”.
“According to the Department Of Justice (DOJ) filing, all invoices were paid with funds from the US$681 million or RM2.6 billion which was credited to Najib’s private bank accounts,” said Pua.
The documents then suggested that the jewellery was sent to Rosmah through a friend in Hong Kong on March 7, 2014.
Pua also challenged Najib and Rosmah to deny the findings of the DOJ.
“Until this day, why hasn’t the couple denied this?
“Having indulged in money ‘stolen’ from the public, they are now trying to fool them by misrepresenting the facts,” he said.
In Oct last year, Najib told Al-Jazeera’s “101 East” interview that the 22-carat pink diamond was a gift from Sheikh Mansour Zayed, the deputy prime minister of UAE, a close associate of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.
In a related development, the police have debunked Rosmah’s denials of purchasing the pink diamonds.
“There are money trail evidence on the pink diamond purchase worth RM23 million from a New York based jeweller, using 1MDB funds,” said the anti money laundering criminal investigation team chief, SAC Dato’ Khalil Azlan Chik in a statement.
“Even though the pink diamond has not been found during police raids, evidence gathered thus far proves that there is a purchase transaction.”
