Seized jewellery, watches to be authenticated

KUALA LUMPUR: Authentication work on the jewellery and watches seized by the police in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd investigation will begin next week.

Thirty-five bags containing the jewellery and watches now sit in a vault at Bukit Aman.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Amar Singh said they had already sat down with a special team of experts recently and would start the authentication process on Monday.

“Once we have done the verification, we will release our findings on the value of the items seized,” he said yesterday.

The items were found in 37 of 72 pieces of luggage seized from a luxury apartment on May 18.

Comm Amar also confirmed that police had finished counting the cash found in 35 luggage bags.

“We have seized 26 different currencies amounting to an estimated RM114mil. This was based on Thursday’s exchange rates.

“For the counting of money, we brought in 21 officers from Bank Negara and one officer from Bank Islam,” he said, adding that the money was now in safe keeping with the central bank.

On the authentication of the “designer” bags, he said police would take pictures and send them to Paris.

He said police also seized 150 handbags and shoes from a Pavilion Residences condo, said to be the home of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s daughter.

“We also seized RM500,000 in cash in various currencies, watches and handbags from Najib’s Langgak Duta residence. We conducted 12 searches so far,” he said.

Comm Amar said speculation had been rife over the value of the seizure.

“All the pictures and information spread about the money counted so far are fake news,” he said.