Watches, handbags, cash not seized from Najib’s residence

KUALA LUMPUR: Photos of luxury watches, handbags and stacks of cash allegedly seized from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s residence are actually taken from the internet.

The pictures which have been going viral, are actually fake and have nothing to do with the on-going police raids at Najib’s residence since early this week.

One image showing a tray of six gold Rolex watches is widely shared on social media site Pinterest while another image of luggage filled with stacks of US currency is from a June 2016 robbery case that happened in the United States and had nothing to do with the on-going police investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and Najib.

The most widely distributed photo is of 27 multi-coloured Hermes Birkin handbags laid out neatly on what looks like a living room floor.

This photo was previously shared on Sarawak Report’s Facebook page saying it was an unverified photo purportedly of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s designer bags estimated at RM20 million.

The owner of the handbags photograph taken in Singapore called Shopfirstluxury on Saturday made a statement saying: “If anybody receives this broadcast (viral photo), please just don’t spread it again using this picture.

“In this fast information era, let’s be a responsible news reader, and think twice before sharing with your friends and family,” Shopfirstluxury wrote on Instagram.

Police had been searching six premises linked to Najib in their investigations into the 1MDB scandal since May 16.

On May 18, police seized 284 boxes filled with designer handbags, watches, jewellery and cash in various currencies from three condominiums at Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur.

The police have been photographed transporting luggage and orange boxes containing the designer handbags seized from the raid, but have not released any verified images of the seized items.