PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has claimed that he is not aware of the extent of his wife’s collection of jewellery and other items, stating that he is like any husband in that respect.
In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini on Wednesday, the former premier said the valuation of the items, in particular the jewellery – which number over 12,000 pieces – seized from the six residences linked to him are subjective and unrealistic.
“It depends on the source of the stones, it depends when they were gifted or when they were purchased. Valuation can tend to differ.
“So let us not get too excited about it. Let us look at the items, every single item, and we hope to have a chance to examine these items. And (then) we can come to a conclusion on the source of the items and get an explanation on the items seized by the police,” said Najib.
However, Najib said he was not provided with the full and detailed list of seized items during the raids since May.
According to the former premier, he was given an incomplete list with vague descriptions, which lacked photographs of the seized items.
In a previous interview, Najib has said that most of the luxury items sized were gifts given to his wife and daughter and had nothing to do with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Amar Singh told a press conference on Wednesday that it took police from May 21 to June 25 to ascertain the value of the cash and items seized.
With cash and items seized amounting to between RM900mil and RM1.1bil, Amar has said that this was the biggest seizure in Malaysian history.
When Najib was asked if he had discussed the latest disclosure from police with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, he claimed that Rosmah herself was surprised with the number of items mentioned.
“She doesn’t believe it (the valuation) will come up to that amount. And also some items, the jewellers have got records that they were sent for viewing and to be returned. So we need to identify these items and return them,” he added.
According to Najib, a significant amount of the seized jewellery do not legally belong to his wife.
Some belonged to their daughter Nooryana Najwa, her husband and mother-in-law.
In the interview, he claimed that the jewellers who had sent the items for viewing have now written in to legally claim back their items.
“But let us not jump to any conclusions at this stage. Let us examine the items individually,” he added.
Najib also pointed out that other factors must be established once the list of items seized is examined.
“We need to know the dates of the gifts, like jewellery items.
“As you know, prices of stones acquired or gifted 20 years ago are much less than they were paid because the price of stones have increased significantly so it depends on what valuation and when the valuation was made,” he added.
When asked why he did not declare the gifts received, Najib stated there is no system to do so in the country, and recalled how he wanted election funding to be more transparent.
“I actually suggested in 2010 that there should be, when it came to donations, that we should have a system of transparency and we should record the donations to some independent body.
“I had that specific proposal, but at that time, it was rejected by the opposition who are now part of the government.
“They rejected it, I suspect it was because they wanted anonymity because if people who donate to them had their identities known then that would be to their disadvantage,” he mused.
Najib said that it “is on record” that he suggested the idea, and mentioned a memory of speaking to Pemandu’s Datuk Seri Idris Jala as well as the then Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who liked the idea.
“We brought it forward, but it was rejected by the opposition so that is why it didn’t go through.
“Had it gone through, the election funding in this country would be handled in a much more transparent way. But if I were to do it for BN but not for them, then we would be at a disadvantage.
“So the whole proposal… which is on record, we actually initiated the move for much more transparent, and accountable manner for political donation,” he added.
Amar: Police 101%c sure of 1MDB raid’s integrity
KUALA LUMPUR — Police maintained today their integrity in the seizure of cash, jewellery and handbags in their 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigation that they estimated to be worth RM1.1 billion.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Commissioner Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh said the police’s counting of cash was done in a similar manner to the counting of ballots in the 14th general election.
“I’m sure many might be thinking that some of the exhibits might be pilfered. But I am 101 per cent sure of their integrity. What was seized is what has been counted and verified.
“The counting and verification process was done just like you see in polling stations and counting centres… with observers to ensure the exhibits were secured and not compromised at any time,” he told Malay Mail.
Amar said the process of counting the cash and appraising the items seized from properties linked to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak involved 150 investigators from various backgrounds.
There were experts to value the gems and handbags, photographers, diarists, officers in charge, observers, Special Action Unit officers, police outriders and MPV assets for transporting.
“We took all these measures to ensure everything was done with utmost integrity and safety right from transporting the items to the safekeeping area, counting area and back to Bank Negara.
“That’s why it took a long time, because the numbers and value of the exhibits were too large. We don’t want the public to undermine our professionalism in safeguarding the exhibits,” he said.
This morning, in his press conference, Amar also said police usually count raid seizures on the spot, but the numbers in this case were too big and they had to also look into the lack of logistics such as air-conditioning, chairs and the need for experts to sit through the time-consuming process.
The police even worked through the Hari Raya holidays to count and verify the authenticity of all the seized items.
On May 20, Najib’s former lawyer, Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal, accused the police of demanding meals and helping themselves to chocolates at residences linked to Najib during the ongoing raids.
Amar, who headed the series of raids, then requested for Harpal to come forward with more details and to identify the police personnel involved, but there has been no news from Harpal to date.
This morning, Amar revealed the appraised cost of 12,000 pieces of jewellery alone to be RM440 million, with their market price estimated at between RM660 million and RM880 million.
The market value includes workmanship cost, initial labour charges, design fees and more.
The police also seized 567 handbags worth RM51.3 million, 423 watches worth RM78 million and 234 pairs of sunglasses valued at RM374,000.
The count of cash contained in 35 bags seized from three units at Pavilion Residences was RM114 million in 26 different currencies.
Another half a million ringgit in cash was also recovered from Najib’s home in Taman Duta. – MALAY MAIIL
ANN /MALAY MAIL
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