RM109 million and counting: One-third of cash bags linked to Najib documented

The painstaking counting process has so far documented cash in only 26 of the 72 bags seized from properties linked to Najib Razak.

Police transferring items, including luxury handbags and cash, into a truck last week after they were seized from a condominium unit linked to Najib Razak.

PETALING JAYA: A total of RM109 million worth of cash in multiple denominations has been recorded by police, following a long and painful process to document the piles of money found in bags seized from premises linked to former prime minister Najib Razak, a Chinese-language daily reports.

China Press said police have so far counted cash from 27 bags, from some 72 seized in six properties including Najib’s private residence.

The arduous task of documenting every note was carried out at the police Commercial Crime Investigation Department’s office in Menara 238, Jalan Tun Razak.

The first phase on Monday involved 11 bags. Yesterday, officers spent 12 hours, starting from 8am, counting money from 16 other bags.

All the money was then placed in 15 boxes and transported to Bank Negara Malaysia, according to China Press.

Last week, police reportedly seized 72 bags, alongside scores of luxury items such as handbags and watches, as part of an investigation into Najib.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has pledged there will be “no negotiation” in unravelling the former leader’s role in the 1MDB scandal, where it is alleged that millions of dollars were syphoned from the state firm. -FMT