Deputy minister confirms VVIP’s wife did not purchase pink diamond

(Malaysiakini) – 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.

“But 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.