Najib claims handbags, jewellery 'gifts'

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 20 Jun 2018 11:08PM · 7 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak says as a long-time government servant he knows what's right and what's wrong. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 20, 2018.

NAJIB Razak said the cash, handbags and jewellery seized from his home and several premises are “gifts to his wife and daughter” and have nothing to do with funds misappropriated from 1MDB, reports Reuters today.  

Speaking to Reuters in Langkawi, where he and his family had gone for a Hari Raya break, the former prime minister denied that the billions deposited into his bank accounts came from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, are barred from leaving the country. They were questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in relation to the RM42 million transferred into his bank accounts from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said his priority is to nab the culprits responsible for the 1MDB scandal.

No one would be spared in the investigation into the debt-ridden state investment fund, which was established by Najib, Thomas said on the first day at the job.

Najib told Reuters he did not know if the billions of ringgit in his bank accounts were from 1MDB nor did he have any knowledge of the yachts, paintings, gems and overseas real estate acquired from stolen funds.

“I’m not party to the yacht, the paintings… I’ve never seen those paintings whatsoever,” said Najib.

“I was not aware of these purchases. This was done without my knowledge. I would never authorise 1MDB funds to be used for any of these items. I’ve been in government so long, I know what’s right and what’s wrong,” Najib was quoted as saying.

Fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, the one-time Najib confidante, allegedly diverted billions of ringgit from 1MDB into luxury assets, such as the yacht Equanimity, diamond necklaces and Picassos, as well as to finance a Hollywood movie.

Najib’s residence at Jalan Langgak Duta and three luxury condominium units at Pavilion Residences were raided more than a week after Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government on May 9.

The raids at Pavilion Residences yielded RM114 million cash in various denominations and 284 boxes of handbags, jewellery and watches.

Najib told Reuters the bags and jewellery were wedding presents to his daughter.

His son-in-law Daniyar Nazarbayev, a nephew of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, also gifted many of the handbags to Rosmah.

“People might find it hard to understand, but my son-in-law for example, he gets Birkins from his source, five or six at one go,” he was quoted as saying.

“His family has got some means, so it has nothing to do with 1MDB if it comes from Kazakhstan.”

Najib told Reuters the 1MDB board should have alerted him if funds were missing from the state investor. – June 20, 2018.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • It is so incredible to hear the story he has cooked up. Its not that its shocking he think incompetence and total idiocy is a possible legal defense, its all that smiling and calmness while he is doing proof that there is something wrong with his head BUT only because he is morally bankrupt. Frankly, if this is his defensne, he should be put down after he is found guilty, he obviously is not much human in him for coming up with this..

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Is it possible that he has truth on his side?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • His denials are so outrageous, it's laughable. It's just like the sodomy charges they pinned on Anwar to send him to jail. Literally bordering on the farcical.

    Posted 5 years ago by Anthony Long · Reply

  • No matter what people conjecture things like this can only be settled in a court of law..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Jibby - who are you kidding?? You think we will be so naive to believe that you are so naive and dumb?? You signed all the papers, which means you are not just implicated, but you approved.

    Posted 5 years ago by Kenneth Tan · Reply

  • najib is a brainless ugly lying piece of shit and his wife is fat stupid greedy and SO UGLY.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tommy richard · Reply

  • Before may 9 - you (and Arul) claimed to be on top of everything at 1MDB, you are very involved and all issues will be settled within 6 months. Now you claimed - I don't know, I was not informed. But all the luxury bags, watches, cash at home - you have answer. WHo gave you the gifts without expecting or getting something in return. You are not handsome, wife is not miss Malaysia - so what are those gifts for???

    Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply