Umno moves to claim RM117 million seized from Najib-linked properties

Updated 7 years ago · Published on 11 Jul 2018 4:15PM · 9 Comments

Umno legal unit head Azalina Othman Said says the party has hired Scivetti & Associates, with Hariharan Tara Singh as lead counsel. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 11, 2018.

UMNO has engaged lawyers to claim RM116.7 million seized by police from premises linked to former party president Najib Razak.

Najib and the party have repeatedly claimed that the funds are political donations made in the run-up to the 14th general election.

Umno legal unit head Azalina Othman Said, in a statement today, said the party has hired Scivetti & Associates, with Hariharan Tara Singh as lead counsel.

“Umno has hired Scivetti & Associates… with Hariharan as lead counsel, to represent Umno in claiming the political donations, amounting to roughly RM116.7 million, belonging to the party that has been seized by police.”

The former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said a formal request will be submitted to police to furnish the party with details on the case.

Azalina said the party is mulling legal action against police for the alleged wrongful seizure.

“Umno is also considering, among other things, the procedures and legal actions that can be taken by the party against police in claiming the political donations.”

Last month, federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh had said RM116.7 million in 26 currencies, packed in 35 bags, was seized in raids on Najib-linked premises.

He previously said no one from Umno, including Najib, had claimed the money.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun had said Umno could stake a claim on the funds, but it must follow procedure.

He had said the cash and other valuables seized in the raids were evidence in a police case.

“We must follow the law, and we cannot take any drastic actions that may jeopardise the case.”

Umno’s strategic communications unit had, on May 24, said the party needed the funds to rebuild itself after its GE14 trouncing.

“Umno is seeking to recover the funds, and we request that police release and return them to the party after investigations are completed.

“Umno is in the process of rebuilding, and the return of the party’s funds will help in this process.”

Former Johor Baru MP Shahrir Abdul Samad was among the Umno leaders who said the funds belonged to the party.

He made the statement when police had tabulated only RM114 million of the cash seized.

The Umno strategic communications unit said the party’s constitution allowed for the president to source and manage funds, including those to be used for a general election. – July 11, 2018.

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Comments

  • HUH? If the money is donation, shouldn't UMNO be the one to furnish details FOR the claim?

    Posted 7 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Claim RM117 millions ill gotten money? Must face Rule of Law

    Posted 7 years ago by Tam Yan Cheng · Reply

  • The money is evidence in the 1MDB case. Until the funds are given a clean bill of health, and the court case disposed, it has to be kept as evidence by the police/ authorities..

    Posted 7 years ago by New Malaysian · Reply

  • Wow! How come you got so generous donor who gave millions into Umno coffers? Isn't this ridiculous?

    Posted 7 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • UMNO could NOT provide the total amount of $, so of course UMNO waited until the $ was counted & valuation done, so that UMNO can sneakily claim the loot. Watch out for these snakes, Pakatan as they will stoop to anything to get the $ to strike back. Beware, there is a sinister plot at work here!

    Posted 7 years ago by Jesse Lingard · Reply

  • Yes, the money belongs to UMNO but the donor do not wish to disclose his name. So return back the money because cant even pay bills

    Posted 7 years ago by Tsunami Rakyat Malaysia · Reply

  • When you lie, you must know how to lie.

    Posted 7 years ago by Sabah One · Reply

  • Donations? Oh really? All in cash? Hard to believe. Why in the former PMs property and not with the treasurer of the organisation? Something not right here. Why is the cash not in the bank account? Why do you need so much cash lying around? In foreign exchange as well? Come on UMNO. Piss off.

    Posted 7 years ago by Justice For All · Reply

  • Even the money behind the fake wall?

    If UMNO's money should have been in UMNO's bank account not Najib's or his residence.

    Who do you think you are fooling??

    Posted 7 years ago by Bob Archie · Reply