Answer RM13mil Jewel-gate claim, Rosmah told

PKR has demanded that Rosmah Mansor responds to claims by carpet trader Deepak Jaikishin that he had paid RM13 million to purchase jewellery for her in 2008 and 2009.

Deepak (right) is said to have claimed that the purchase of 19 pieces of custom-made jewellery from two firms in Hong Kong is part of alleged kickbacks to grease a land deal.

"It is of public interest that both Rosmah and Deepak come clean," PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli told a press conference at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

To back the allegation, Rafizi furnished documents that the party had obtained through intermediaries from Deepak.

He also pointed out that one document names Rosmah.

When contacted, an aide to Rosmah said he would have to check on the claim.
Malaysiakini has also contacted the jewellers involved and is awaiting their response.
'Probe warranted'

Based on preliminary checks, Rafizi said he believes the email communiques, invoices, account summaries and fund-transfer documents to be genuine.

The onus, he said is now on Deepak to furnish the authorities with original copies of the documents and other proof, so that an investigation can be carried out.

Deepak had told Malaysiakini earlier that he would lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) later today.

Based on the documents, his companies, Carpet Raya Sdn Bhd and Carpet Plus Sdn Bhd, had paid for the jewellery.

"These are serious allegations," Rafizi said, noting that the documents and Deepak's claims warrant a probe.

Anticipating the possibility of a formal denial, Rafizi said it was not logical that the items were for Deepak’s use as “I have not seen (him) wearing rings and necklaces”.

PKR treasurer William Leong, who was present, urged the MACC to investigate the claim "without fear or favour" and prove that it is truly independent.

Failure to do so would show that it only investigates safe targets who have no political connections, he said.

He added that even without a report being lodged, the anti-graft body is empowered by its parent legislation to call in Deepak and compel him to furnish them with proof of his allegation.