Malaysian party claims cash seized from Najib
Probers said they seized 400 handbags, $28.6 million cash from Najib properties
KUALA LUMPUR— Malaysia’s defeated United Malays National Organization (UMNO) has asked police to return to the party millions of dollars seized from properties linked to former prime minister Najib Razak.
Malaysian police said Friday they seized over 400 handbags and cash amounting to almost $30 million in raids on luxury apartments as they probed corruption allegations against Najib.
“From the money found, there were 26 currencies, the total amount as of yesterday is 114 million (ringgit) ($28.6 million),” said Amar Singh, the police’s head of commercial crime investigations.
Cash, watches and jewelry
The money was found in 35 bags at one apartment while another 37 bags at the same location contained watches and jewellery, he told a press conference.
A total of 284 boxes containing designer handbags were found in that condominium.
Police also seized about 150 handbags from another apart- ment in the same complex where Najib’s daughter was staying.
Billions of dollars missing
A total of 12 locations, including the ex-leader’s home, were searched by police last week as part of an investigation into what happened to billions of dollars missing from an insolvent state fund founded by Najib during his nearly 10 years in power.
But UMNO said in statement on Thursday that the money was campaign contributions and party funding left over after the election and it was seized while it was in the process of being transferred to the party’s new leadership.
“As such, UMNO seeks to recover these funds and requests the police to release these funds and return them to the party after completion of all due process and investigations by the relevant authorities,” the party said.
UMNO has long been known for its ‘cash politics,’ as the party has built its support among ethnic Malays through a system of patronage.
Party funds
The party said the 92-yearold Mahathir Mohamad, a former UMNO leader who had a falling out with Najib over the corruption allegations, also handed back 1.2 billion ringgit ($301 million) to the party and its 3 million members when he stepped down as party president in 2003.
Out of power for the first time since independence six decades ago, UMNO said it needed the money to recover from its defeat.
“UMNO is in the process of rebuilding and the return of our party funds will help in this process,” the statement said.