Najib and family allowed to inspect 1MDB-linked items seized by police

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has allowed an application from former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and his family to physically inspect the items allegedly linked to 1MDB which were seized by the police.

“I am of the view that the applicants should be given the opportunity to inspect the goods.

“(The prosecution’s concerns about security) can easily be allayed by ensuring inspection be done in a premise controlled by them with the necessary security.

“I am not able to fathom how the removal of these goods can result in the deterioration of their value.

“I, therefore, order that the respondent allow the applicants to physically inspect the items,” said Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.

However, he allowed the application with a number of added conditions.

First, he said the inspection must be conducted in a premise designated by the prosecution.

Secondly, that only the applicants be allowed to inspect the items under supervision of the prosecution’s personnel.

Mohamed Zaini later changed this to include one solicitor from each party who will not touch the items, after it was suggested by Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (below) with no objections.

Third, that the inspection will only be done once and it will be done within two weeks of today, and finally, that the applicants can file their affidavits by March 2, 2020 after the inspection of the items.

Previously, Muhammad Shafee had said it was important for Najib and his family to inspect the items seized to identify whether they were received as gifts or acquired by themselves.

The prosecution, on the other hand, had said the seized items were being held in a secret vault at Bank Negara Malaysia, accessible only by certain bank officers.

As such, the prosecution had argued that inspection should not be allowed to preserve the security of the vault. Even if the inspection were to occur at another location, the transfer in location might depreciate the value of the seized items, they had said.

An application was first filed by Najib on July 18, 2019, to inspect and obtain particulars on the said assets.

He was seeking to be provided colour pictures of the items seized on May 17, 2018, as well as their detailed descriptions.

Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor and daughter Nooryana Najwa had also filed an application for leave to be allowed to physically examine the items.

Among the items seized are 315 handbags of various brands, 14 watches and 27 pairs of shoes of various brands.

Seized assets also include cash in various currencies, including RM537,000, £2,700, 2,870,000 Sri Lanka rupees, RM187,750 in old notes and £320,500. - Mkini