Umno mulls legal action to reclaim RM116.7 mln cash seized from Najib-linked premises

PETALING JAYA: Umno may take legal action to claim back RM116.7 mln in cash that had been seized by the police in premises linked to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The party has appointed law firm Tetuan Scivetti & Associates, and a team of lawyers led by Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh, to represent Umno in claiming back these funds.

Umno's legal bureau chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said that the party was studying the legal issues on claiming back this money.

"The Umno legal team will make an application to the authorities that are involved, especially the police to get and provide information for our next step of action. We hope that no parties speculate on this matter," she said in a statement yesterday.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Amar Singh said no one from Umno had come forward to claim the cash, found in 26 denominations and seized from residences and premises linked to Najib.

In May, the Umno communications team said the party was seeking to recover funds it claimed were meant for transfer to the party's acting leadership after Najib's resignation as Umno president.

It said the party constitution allowed for its president to source and manage party funds, including for the general elections.

The comms team said when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped down as Umno president, he had also handed back RM1.2bil to the party.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun reportedly said Umno should go through "the proper channels" to recover the funds.