Several personal items such as handbags, clothes and gifts were seized from the home of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at his personal residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta here early today.
However no documents were taken, Najib’s lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal told reporters after exiting the house at about 4.20 am.
He said the items were believed to have been taken for the purpose of investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
“We believe (the search) was done under the Anti-Money Laundering Act,” he said, adding that Najib and his family were cooperative during the search and that no arrests were made.
A man, who claimed to be a neighbour of Najib, was stopped by the police as he approached the house at 11.20 am on Thursday.
Scores of reporters from the local and foreign media have been camping in the vicinity of the house since Wednesday (May 16) night to monitor developments.
Passing motorists slowed their vehicles to see what was going on or to snap photographs or record videos of the situation outside the residence.
More than 10 police vehicles, including a truck, arrived at the house at 10.15pm on Wednesday after Najib had returned from attending “terawih” prayers at the Kampung Baru Mosque here.
Najib’s lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal told reporters early Thursday that several personal items such as handbags, clothes and gifts were removed from the house.
He said Najib and his family members extended their cooperation during the search, and that there were no arrests.
The police also searched another private residence of Najib, a luxury apartment in Jalan Raja Chulan.
Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor have been blacklisted by the Immigration Department and they are prohibited from leaving the country.
Last week, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he expected charges to be filed against Najib following investigations over the removal of hundreds of millions of US dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund.
By Shayne Heffernan
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