A RM24.4 Million diamond ring for 'First Lady'

A blog claims that the self-styled First Lady received a 'Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring' in April.

PETALING JAYA: As Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak still reels from the Bersih 2.0 rally’s political aftershocks, a glittering new allegation has surfaced about his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

The self-styled First Lady had allegedly come into possession of a diamond ring, worth a whopping US$24 million (RM73.48 million) sometime in April this year.

A pro-Pakatan Rakyat blog called “Milo Suam” claimed that the ring was sent to Rosmah by the New York-based fine jewellers, Jacob & Co.
The ring

The ring

The blog claimed that the ring, identified as a “Natural Fancy Blue Gray Cushion Cut Diamond Ring” passed through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport customs and was cleared by a customs operations manager known as A Krishnan.

Screenshots of the alleged customs computer displays also revealed that the ring did not have import duties imposed on it.

The same display also indicated the value of the ring to be US$24.4 million.

The story of the ring had also spread to many other pro-Pakatan blogs.

According to a Forbes website, the ring is a “VVS2 clarity diamond mounted on a platinum ring surrounded by 414 diamonds in a micro-pave setting (3.48 cts.).”

Meanwhile, “Milo Suam” questioned Najib’s rationale in allegedly purchasing such an expensive item for his wife.

“While you were screaming in pain from being beaten by a police baton… there was someone who was enjoying wealth that she did not earn,” read the blog.

The blog also asked if Najib had misused his powers in allocating RM111 million to Rosmah for her woman-and-children-oriented programme, Permata, in the 2011 Budget.

Jacob & Co has an outlet in Malaysia through a local branch known as Yafriro Celebrer Le Temps Sdn Bhd, located at the Starhill Gallery luxury shopping mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang.

When contacted, Yafriro refused to comment on the alleged ring puchase by Rosmah.

Deny it Rosmah, says Chegu Bard

Meanwhile in another development, PKR leader and SAMM (Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia) president Badrul Hisham Shaharin challenged Rosmah to deny the claims made about the expensive ring.

“US$24 million is a lot of money! Its a lot! Where did she get that much of money? I don’t want any of the mosquito Umno leaders to answer the allegation but Rosmah herself must do so”, he demanded.

The screenshots allegedly taken from the Customs Department computer was also put up in Badrul Hisham’s blog. Known popularly as Chegu Bard, he is the Rembau PKR division chief.

He also asked if the prime minister had any ulterior motive in announcing tax exemptions for imported jewellery.

“ When the prime minister announced the tax exemption during last year’s budget (last October) on certain luxury goods including handbags, clothing and jewelleries, it maybe be done in the interest of his wife,” he charged.

“I suspect this is the case based on the forms in the customs’ computer system. The forms show that the transaction was done without any taxes being imposed,” he added.

He also said that the Penang chapter of SAMM would be lodging a report at the Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the diamond ring scandal.

By Patrick Lee and Zefry Dahalan