Including other items such as handbags and watches, the total value of items seized are estimated to be between RM900 million and RM1.1 billion, said Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh.
Amar Singh said of the jewellery, the number of items alone was 12,000 and included 14 tiaras, rings, diamonds, bangles and earrings.
Among the more expensive pieces was a RM6.4 million necklace with a white diamond.
He told a press conference today that the jewellery valuation of RM440 million was only for the materials and did not factor in workmanship, design and other costs involved in sales, which would be 50% to 100% more.
Also seized were 567 handbags from 37 brands that included Hermes, Prada, Versace and Chanel, among others. One of them, under the brand Bijan, was custom-made and is not available on the market.
For the Hermes bags alone, of which there were 272 pieces, the value was RM51.3 million.
The cash was found in 26 currencies and took three days to count with the help of 22 officers from Bank Negara Malaysia, using six counting machines.
“We worked over the Hari Raya holidays,” Amar said, adding that a total of 150 police officers and other personnel were involved.
The seizures were made from raids at premises linked to Najib, including his private residence at Jalan Langgak Duta and the condo units where his son and daughter lived at Pavilion Residences, as well as an empty unit at the same condominium.
Watches and sunglasses were also seized. There were 423 watches from more than 100 brands, with the Rolex Daytona being the most expensive at RM3.5 million.
There were 234 sunglasses worth RM374,000, he added.
Amar said the huge number of items and their high value was why police couldn’t conduct the counting at the premises of the raids, and police also needed the help of experts. The cash and jewellery are now kept at Bank Negara.
“The amount was just too huge. This is the biggest seizure in Malaysian history,” he said when reporters asked if even police were surprised at the amount seized.
Amar said police will be taking statements from certain people to determine if the items were given as gifts to Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, before questioning Rosmah again.
He said investigations into all the items and cash seized were being done under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA).
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