PMO heist: RM3.5m taken from Najib's office on night of election

EXCLUSIVE | The security personnel at the Prime Minister's Department remanded by the MACC today had allegedly stolen cash totalling RM3.5 million from the office of former premier Najib Abdul Razak on the night of the 14th general election.

Sources told Malaysiakini that the 17 security personnel had taken away the money – which the MACC said was part of Umno’s election war chest – upon learning that "BN was losing the election."

"The security personnel were part of a team on duty that night to provide security at the department.

“Those arrested were the ones who at that time were tasked to guard its main building where the Prime Minister’s Office is.

"It is believed that when they learned that BN was going to lose the election, they decided to take something for themselves and went into an office that belongs to former prime minister," a source said.

The cash, added the source, was not kept in a safe.

Authorities suspect that the group had cleared up all the cash they could find in the office.

Another source said authorities began to become suspicious at the suspects’ involvement when they were seen flashing their sudden wealth, including with purchases of new motorcycles.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, MACC deputy chief commissioner of operations Azam Baki confirmed that the security personnel are being investigated, but declined to elaborate further.

Earlier today, the MACC acquired a five-day remand order against the suspects, aged between 31 and 51, at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court to facilitate investigation under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, punishable by up to 20 years' jail and a fine.

It was reported that MACC had seized RM840,700 in cash from the suspects, alongside nine motorcycles worth RM90,000. -Mkini