Malaysian police seize 284 designer handbags and 72 suitcases stuffed with cash and jewellery as part of corruption probe into former PM
Malaysian police have seized 284 designer handbags and 72 suitcases stuffed with cash and jewellery as part of a corruption and money-laundering investigation into former prime minister Najib Razak.
Items such as Birkin handbags from Hermes, jewels, watches and other valuables were carted out in orange boxes from a luxury apartment complex in the capital Kuala Lumpur following a police search.
Police still need to assess the value of the haul but Amar Singh, chief of the police commercial crimes unit, said the amount of jewellery found "is rather big".
Mr Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor are at the centre of a corruption scandal after billions of dollars were reportedly siphoned off from the Malaysian state fund, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Authorities in six different countries are investigating the fund.
US investigators have accused Mr Najib's associates of stealing and laundering $4.5bn (£3.3) from the fund, some of which allegedly landed in Mr Najib's bank account and was used to buy a $23m pink diamond necklace for his wife. Ms Rosmah is known for her lavish spending on designer handbags, watches and jewellery when she travels abroad. Mr Najib’s critics have previously accused his wife of financing her expensive shopping habit with public funds.
Mr Singh declined to say who the raided apartment belonged to but he confirmed that the search was “conducted in relevance to our 1MDB investigations".
Anti-corruption police also carried out simultaneous raids at several other locations, including his former office as prime minister, an official residence and Mr Najib’s own home, where police seized more handbags and clothes following a 20-hour search.
Mr Singh said police were trying to crack open a safe in Mr Najib’s house.
Mr Najib has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer denounced the long search at his home as "harassment".
The police raid marks an extraordinary turn of events a week after Mr Najib’s coalition was defeated in a general election he was expected to win – putting an end to the coalition's 60-year rule.
After leading an opposition alliance to victory in the 9 May election, the new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad re-opened the investigation into the state fund’s missing money.
The 92-year-old, who was once Mr Najib’s mentor, was prime minister for 22 years until 2003. He ran again in the country’s latest election, pledging to tackle the corruption at the heart of the administration.
Mr Mahathir said there is sufficient evidence to investigate the multibillion dollar fraud allegations and that the initial investigation showed the scale of the previous administration’s wrongdoing was more serious than expected. He added that the government will try to retrieve the billions of dollars laundered from the state fund to repay the government’s debt.
He warned that arrests will be made when enough evidence is gathered and that “no deal” will be made with Mr Najib.
Saya telah dimaklumkan bahawa Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia tidak membenarkan saya dan keluarga ke luar negara. Saya menghormati arahan tersebut dan akan bersama keluarga dalam negara.
— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) May 12, 2018
The former prime minister and his wife have been banned from travelling overseas as the investigation continues. In a tweet, Mr Najib said: “I have been informed that the Immigration Department in Malaysia does not allow me and my family to go abroad. I respect this decision and I will stay with my family in the country.”
The government has also dismissed the attorney general who cleared Mr Najib of wrongdoing in 2016 and the head of the treasury who was also the 1MDB state fund chairman.
In a post on Twitter earlier this week celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, Mr Najib asked for “the forgiveness of past sins”.
Additional reporting by agencies.
