KUALA LUMPUR: No one from Umno has come forward to claim the RM3.5mil allegedly taken by security personnel from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) despite claims by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that the loot belongs to the party, said Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

The Inspector-General of Police said so far no party leaders had come forward to claim the sum, following the arrests of 17 security personnel last week.

"As far as we know, no one has come forward.

"However, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is spearheading the investigation," he told a press conference after attending the Bukit Aman monthly assembly on Tuesday (Aug 14).

The IGP also lambasted certain parties that spread lies by claiming that police personnel were among those arrested.

"Some of them were auxiliary police personnel attached to the PMO," he clarified.

It was reported that the former premier claimed that the RM3.5mil allegedly taken by security personnel from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) belonged to Umno, leading to graft investigators wanting to interview him on the matter.

It is understood that the investigators, who are conducting an in-depth probe, want to find out if "there is anymore Umno money".

The former prime minister's acknowledgement that the cash in this case was Umno's has raised questions on why no one from the party had asked for the money to be returned.

Meanwhile, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki confirmed their intention to record Najib's statement on the matter.

On Aug 8, 17 security personnel were remanded for five days for allegedly taking the cash from the PMO.

They are said to have taken the campaign money when they learnt that Barisan Nasional was losing the general election.

Following the arrests, Najib, in a statement to Malaysiakini, said the RM3.5mil belonged to Umno.

He had also demanded that aside from the RM3.5mil, cash amounting to RM114mil seized by the police in a series of raids on private residences, be returned to Umno.

Apparently, the guards had "noticed" there was money in the PMO prior to the elections and had been "eyeing" them.

"When the results didn't look like it was going in favour of Barisan, the guards, who had access cards to the PMO, conducted the 'black ops'.

"We believe it was done around 2am to 3am when the office was empty," said an MACC source.

It is understood that the cash was taken from the office of a "very senior staff member of the then prime minister".