Money in three currencies, bags of jewellery, watches and gold bars confiscated as part of 1MDB investigation

Malaysian police have seized $29m in cash from a property linked to the ousted prime minister Najib Razak as part of their investigation into the 1MDB scandal, while 37 bags of jewellery, watches and gold bars seized are yet to be valued.

Police commissioner, Amar Singh, who is overseeing the investigation said that it had taken 22 bank officers two days to count the cash, which was in 26 different currencies – mainly Malaysian ringgit, US dollars and Singapore dollars.

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The cash was contained in 35 out of 72 bags that were found during a search last week of an unoccupied apartment in Kuala Lumpur’s affluent Pavilion Residences building, thought to be linked to the former prime minister. “We had a search warrant for this empty premise where we found all these goods,” said Singh.

Two-hundred-and-eighty-four boxes containing designer handbags were seized, while the 37 other bags, which Singh confirmed contained jewellery, watches and other valuable items, were still being authenticated and valued by police.

Singh would not offer an estimate of how much they were worth. However, he appeared to confirm earlier reports that gold bars were also found, stating: “Once I have a person to confirm with me that it is gold, then I will verify it.”

Police did not confirm who owned the property, saying only that the raid was part of the 1MDB investigation. It appeared no one was living in the apartment and it was being used just as a storeroom with the bags of money and jewellery and boxes of handbags stashed together in a corner.

The police are investigating Najib’s alleged role in the 1MDB scandal, where over $4bn was embezzled from a government and spent around the world during his time as prime minister. The sum of $681m from the fund is reported to have ended up in Najib’s personal bank account. He spent over 14 hours across two days this week giving testimony to the Malaysian anti-corruption commission about this transaction and his involvement in the fund.

Twelve locations have been searched as part of the ongoing police 1MDB investigation, including the homes of Najib’s son Nor Ashman and daughter Nooryana Najwa, who also live in in Pavilion Residences condominiums. Police seized another 150 handbags and shoes in Najib’s daughter’s home.

In the Kuala Lumpur home where Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor live, police found 500,000 ringgit in cash ($125,000), foreign currency, watches and handbags.

Both Najib and UMNO, the political party that Najib led before his election loss, have claimed that the cash in Najib’s home was campaign funds being transferred to new party leadership.

Singh confirmed that when they had finished valuing the jewellery and luxury goods, the police would be recording statements from Najib, his wife, son and daughter. He said he would then be reporting their findings to the 1MDB task force.

Asked whether this investigation was like anything he had taken on before, Singh this was the “first case I’ve seen like this.”