Up to RM1.1 billion in cash, valuables seized from Najib, police say

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 27 Jun 2018 11:21AM · 14 Comments

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh presenting to the media the findings of the police investigations into former prime minister Najib Razak today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, June 27, 2018.

RM440 million worth of jewellery and RM116.7 million cash were seized from residences linked to former prime minister Najib Razak, police said today.

Including other items such as handbags and watches, the total value of items seized are estimated to be between RM900 million and RM1.1 billion, said Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh.

Amar Singh said of the jewellery, the number of items alone was 12,000 and included 14 tiaras, rings, diamonds, bangles and earrings.

Among the more expensive pieces was a RM6.4 million necklace with a white diamond.

He told a press conference today that the jewellery valuation of   RM440 million was only for the materials and did not factor in workmanship, design and other costs involved in sales, which would be 50% to 100% more.

Also seized were 567 handbags from 37 brands that included Hermes, Prada, Versace and Chanel, among others. One of them, under the brand Bijan, was custom-made and is not available on the market.

For the Hermes bags alone, of which there were 272 pieces, the value was RM51.3 million.

The cash was found in 26 currencies and took three days to count with the help of 22 officers from Bank Negara Malaysia, using six counting machines.

“We worked over the Hari Raya holidays,” Amar said, adding that a total of 150 police officers and other personnel were involved. 

Amar Singh holding up to the press a picture of the trove of jewellery seized from Najib Razak's residences. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, June 27, 2018.

The seizures were made from raids at premises linked to Najib, including his private residence at Jalan Langgak Duta and the condo units where his son and daughter lived at Pavilion Residences, as well as an empty unit at the same condominium.

Watches and sunglasses were also seized. There were 423 watches from more than 100 brands, with the Rolex Daytona being the most expensive at RM3.5 million.

There were 234 sunglasses worth RM374,000, he added.

Amar said the huge number of items and their high value was why police couldn’t conduct the counting at the premises of the raids, and police also needed the help of experts. The cash and jewellery are now kept at Bank Negara.

“The amount was just too huge. This is the biggest seizure in Malaysian history,” he said when reporters asked if even police were surprised at the amount seized.

Amar said police will be taking statements from certain people to determine if the items were given as gifts to Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, before questioning Rosmah again.

He said investigations into all the items and cash seized were being done under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA). – June 27, 2018.

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Comments

  • wow, hope this could be use to offset the country's debts

    Posted 5 years ago by Johnnie lim · Reply

  • Interesting how Najib's PMO made the following statement to New York Times some three and a half years ago
    “Neither any money spent on travel, nor any jewellery purchases, nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy family assets". Why is he now not so sure where his or his former first lady's funds came from?

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

    • Najib and wife - claimed these ae GIFTS and DONATIONS

      Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply

    • How I wish I am a recipient of just 1% of such generosity.

      Posted 5 years ago by Henry Mancini Jr · Reply

  • Sumbat si nenek gomok ni sekali dengan suami nya si raja penyamun tu ke dalam kandang tikus dan biarkan mereka reput kat dalam sana.....

    Posted 5 years ago by Jimi Soandu · Reply

  • This is a big slap on the Ketuanan Melayu & Ketuanan Islam that UMNO and its Malay Extremists. I hope the Malay Community wake up and demand real changes for themselves versus the rhetoric that UMNO has been selling

    Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply

  • Najib's PMO made the following statement to New York Times in February 2015: "Neither any money spent on travel, nor any jewellery purchases, nor the alleged contents of any safes are unusual for a person of the prime minister’s position, responsibilities and legacy family assets". Why would anyone keep a billion ringgit of legacy family assets in multiple safes at home, especially when his brother runs a bank?

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • "Behind every great fortune there is a crime." ~ Honoré de Balzac

    Posted 5 years ago by Henry Mancini Jr · Reply

  • Material wealth is just an illusion. Harta tak boleh dibawa mati or even to Sg Buloh! After death everyone is the same.

    Posted 5 years ago by Ckone J · Reply

  • What happen to that Pink Diamond Ring which cost a lot of money, I remember reading in Sarawak Report, it was worth A$ 27 million, is it not in the list?

    Posted 5 years ago by Ken Toh · Reply

  • Wow that amount can buy over all the buildings in that piosh neighborhood.Where is the pink diamond????

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Thian Siong · Reply

  • Betul-betul pencuri.... No wonder rakyat Malaysia susah

    Posted 5 years ago by John Nabu · Reply

  • If this news doesn't make us "famous" throughout the world nothing else will.

    Posted 5 years ago by Henry Mancini Jr · Reply

  • Malaysians should be proud that Najib has scored a first in world records to store a billion ringgit worth of currency and goods in a condo. If these were gifts, shouldn't they be deposited with the government. If Najib bought them, how did he afford it with his RM 40,000 income a month. He will need to save for 4,000 years in order to buy all those stuff.

    Posted 5 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply