POLICE were at Najib Razak’s house in Kuala Lumpur today to take a maid’s statement over a missing laptop.

The former prime minister’s lawyer, Badrul Hisham Abdullah, said the laptop belonged to one of the maids at the house, and had gone missing during a police search of the premises.

“A laptop went missing, and Najib lodged a report on how standard operating procedures were not followed.

“Let police investigate first,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Badrul was referring to the police raid on Najib’s Jalan Langgak Duta residence in May, about a week after Barisan Nasional was defeated in the 14th general election and Najib ousted as prime minister.

He said Najib has lodged several police reports over items that went missing during the raid.

Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Senior Asst Comm Rusdi Md Isa said police from the Sentul CID went to Najib’s house this afternoon.

Another police source said six uniformed officers entered Najib’s home.

Police recorded statements from both the maid and Najib in relation to the report he had lodged.

“I can confirm that the team recorded Najib’s maid’s statement in connection with a police report lodged by the former prime minister,” said Rusdi.

Najib has complained about the manner in which raids were conducted on premises linked to him, especially those carried out on Pavilion Residences condominium units where his son and daughter live.

There were also complaints that police officers had helped themselves to food and chocolates in the units, and had not followed SOPs when searching the premises.

This led to Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh to defend his men. He has asked for evidence of SOP breaches, and promised to investigate any misconduct should it be proven.

The raids yielded a haul of RM1.1 billion in cash, jewellery, luxury handbags, watches and sunglasses. Of the total, RM116 million was in cash in 26 currencies.

Najib faces four charges of corruption over the transfer of RM42 million from SRC International, a former 1Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary, into his account.

Three charges are for criminal breach of trust, and the other for using his position for gratification. – July 20, 2018.