Cop: No one from Umno has come forward to claim seized cash

KUALA LUMPUR: No one from Umno has come forward to claim the cash seized from a luxury apartment at Pavilion Residences here.

Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh said this was despite claims that the cash was part of the party’s funds for the 14th General Election.

“If it is true (that the cash was Umno funds), they would have put in a request and we would have to record their statements. But no one has laid claim to the cash we seized from searches in our investigation (into 1MDB).”

He was replying to a question about whether investigations had shown that RM116.7 million in 26 currencies seized from the apartment belonged to Umno.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Umno leaders had claimed that the cash was party funds meant for the GE14 campaign.

Among those who backed the claim were Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, Supreme Council member Datuk Ab Aziz Kaprawi and secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

On June 4, Shahrir claimed that the money seized from Pavilion Residences was the balance of Umno’s election funds.

A week after the seizure, the Umno Strategic Communication Unit claimed that the money was party funds held by Najib as he was then president.

If it is true (that the cash was Umno funds), they would have put in a request and we would have to record their statements. But no one has laid claim to the cash. DATUK SERI AMAR SINGH ISHAR SINGH Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department director

On May 31, Aziz was quoted as saying that he received a circular dated May 22 stating that Umno’s finances were restricted after police seized the cash from Najib’s children’s residences.

Amar said such claims needed to be accompanied by an official request for the funds to be returned.