DOCUMENTS ARE FROM DEEPAK

By : G VINOD

PETALING JAYA: PKR has claimed that the documents implicating businessman Deepak Jaikishan in the purchase of expensive jewellery was from the latter himself.

“Few months back, Deepak himself gave the documents to some PKR leaders. The documents were later handed to me for further deliberation,” said party Strategic Director, Rafizi Ramli today.

Yesterday, Rafizi produced several documents claiming that two carpet companies linked to Deepak had purchased 19 types of jewellery worth about RM13 million in 2009.

The jewellery was said to be purchased on behalf of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Deepak, however, was not pleased with Rafizi’s exposé and said that the documents were not his.

“I’ve never seen the documents Rafizi is producing. Those are not my documents. He has to come forward and tell us where he got these documents from,” Deepak was reported as saying.

However, the businessman did not rebut the allegations made by Rafizi, saying he would seek legal advice on the matter.

Rafizi said that while Deepak could claim what he wanted, the latter should however explain why his company purchased the jewellery.

“If he believes the documents produced are forged, I urge Deepak to lodge a report with the authorities,” he added.

However, Rafizi insisted that the documents came from Deepak and PKR leaders would lodge a report with the police and the MACC on the matter on Monday.

“I will cooperate with the authorities on the matter. In fact, the individual who received the documents from Deepak has agreed to vouch that he received it from the businessman,” he said.

Rafizi also explained why he did not pursue the matter earlier, saying that at that point of time, it was not a matter of public interest.

“But when the government announced that RM160 million from Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) would be used to purchase Deepak’s company and a land belonging to Awan Megah Sdn Bhd, the whole situation changed,” he said.

Willing to meet Deepak

Last month, Deepak decided to drop his lawsuit against Awan Megah, a company owned by Selangor Wanita Umno leader Raja Roopiah Raja Abdullah, on a case involving a land deal that went sour.

Subsequently, a unit with LTAT, Boustead Holdings Bhd, acquired the 80% stake in Astacanggih.

The move prompted PKR to accuse the government of attempting to silence Deepak from continuing his attacks against Najib and Rosmah.

Rafizi offered Deepak an olive branch, saying he was willing to meet the businessman on issues that affect public interest.

“I’m sure Deepak has a lot of incriminating evidence against Najib and Rosmah. But my stand is, if you want us to pursue corruption issues, let us decide on how to go about it.

“But as far as the land deal is concerned, PKR has enough evidence of our own to go about it,” he said. (FMT)