VVIP's wife did not purchase pink diamond, deputy minister confirms

PARLIAMENT | The sales agent who brought in a pink diamond and other jewellery into Malaysia for the wife of a VVIP had declared the valuables with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.

He also declared the valuables with the department when he left the country with them, according to Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah.

"For this high-profile case, I think it was answered by the minister (Lim Guan Eng) last year that they were brought (into the country) by an agent," he said.

"The agent had declared bringing in (the jewellery), and later declared the same when they were taken out.

"So there was no purchase (by the wife of the MP) as they were taken back by this agent," Amiruddin told the Dewan Rakyat during his debate speech when winding-up the policy stage of the Customs (Amendment) Bill 2019.

"I think we were able to have a look at the pink diamond and all the others, but later he took them out of Malaysia," he added without elaborating.

Amiruddin was responding to Wong Hon Wai (Harapan-Bukit Bendera) who asked if any Customs Department form was filled up, and excise or customs duties paid in relation to over 40 pieces of jewellery involving a wife of a VVIP, who is also an MP.

Amiruddin said that in general, no customs or excise duties would be imposed on an individual who brought jewellery into the country.

"When someone brings in such valuables, there is no need (for him or her) to declare them whether the items are in the luggage or being worn,” he said.

"This is so unless the individual imports such things via cargo," he added.

Although he did not name her, Amiruddin was referring to Rosmah Mansor, wife of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In June 2018, the authorities seized cash, jewellery, luxury handbags and watches worth RM1.1 billion from six premises linked to Najib.

A month later, Rosmah was sued by a Lebanese jewellery wholesale company demanding the return of US$14.79 million (RM59.83 million) worth of jewellery which it said were sent to her for viewing prior to purchase.

Rosmah denied that she had bought the jewellery.

Lim later said there was no import declaration made to the Customs Department with regards to the delivery of the 44 pieces of jewellery.

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