No cover-up in Manohara case, says Nazri

Issue will be investigated if formal report is lodged

Agencies

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 05:38:00

DATUK NAZRI: No one is above the law

THE Malaysian government has denied any cover-up in the case of Manohara Odelia Pinot, the 17-year-old Indonesian model who claimed to have been abused and forcibly kept away from her family by her Kelantanese royal husband.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz will investigate if a formal report is lodged as he said no one is above the law, Channel News Asia (CNA) reports.

Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Nazri had said the authorities were in the dark as there has been no formal report lodged so far. "He just happens to be the son of the Sultan... no one is above the law.”

CNA further reported Nazri as saying “This report is criminal act against the state and we will take action" but it is unclear as to whether the Minister was referring to the allegations of abuse or to the claims of non-action by the Government because of the implied involvement of royalty.

On Sunday, Manohara had given a press conference in Jakarta on her alleged 'dramatic escape' from the Royal Plaza Hotel in Singapore where the royal family had been staying. Her allegations have made headlines not only in the region but around the world.

Manohara had said she was filing for divorce while her mother Daisy Fajarina said she would press charges against the prince pending a full medical report. The couple were married in August last year.

Meanwhile CNA said that in a statement issued, the Kelantan royal family had urged the media to respect their privacy and not to play up on the scandal.

It dismissed the allegations as slanderous and through its spokesman, denied any wrongdoing by Manohara’s husband Tengku Temenggong Muhammad Fakhry

"Prove it. Manohara must be prepared to go to an independent doctor, Australia or France, only then it's fair," argued Mohd Sabri Shafiee, who is a close friend of Tengku TT – as the prince is commonly known – and who hopes that Manohara will apologise to clear the air.

IN APRIL: Tengku Muhammad Fakhry and Manohara attended the wedding of the son of PAS leader Husam Musa -- Courtesy of NSTphoto

"Impossible as a human being that he can be cruel when we all know that he loves her so much. Tengku will not run away; we'll make sure the truth comes out,” he had said:

CNA said Sabri later produced footage of the couple’s happy moments together.

"To repair the damage, Manohara needs to tell the truth, seek the husband's forgiveness and Tengku TT will take her back," Mohd Sabri was quoted as saying, adding that he held Manohara's mother responsible for “messing up” her daughter's marriage which otherwise could have worked. Sabri had apparently also claimed that "She (the mother) wants everything; house, cars, you name it. I don't want to go into details,"

source: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/no-coverup-manohara-case-says-nazri