Cops get third party to evaluate value of seized items

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are engaging third-party evaluators to help determine the value of the luxury items seized from the residences of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
The valuation of the large quantities of confiscated luxury goods, mainly hundreds of designer handbags, shoes and watches seized are said to be tedious.
According to investigators from the police anti-money laundering unit today, the undisclosed number of the branded goods such as Birkin handbags that were bought years ago had appreciated in its value as much as twice its purchase price.
The estimated value of the seizure of branded goods, cash, gems, luxury watches and other plush items in the police raids related to the probe on Najib is believed to exceed RM200 million.
It is learnt that the federal police commercial crimes investigations department (CCID) ceased its raids today on Najib's residence in Taman Duta and three luxury apartments at the Pavillion Residences in the city linked to his children and an unidentified businessman who is a Tan Sri.
The raids were conducted over three days since the operation was launched on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Najib's counsel Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal when contacted by theSun today said that he believes there will be no more raids by police as it had been very thorough and exhaustive in clearing up all the goods.
However, he said the police had the authority to conduct further raids if necessary although Najib is away in Pekan.
Asked if Najib had shared with him the estimated value of the items carted away during the raid, Harpal said: "He has no idea and he has no time to look at it. The cash and all that was not from his premises or his children's.
"Everything taken from a condominium, a third one that was unoccupied and where the cash and boxes were found he had nothing to do with it. It is a third party's condominium. As for his, its only the Langgak Duta house and the two apartments (at Pavillion Residence) belonging to his son and daughter."
He also said the police are yet to provide his client with a search list on the "third" apartment.
On Najib's grouses of personnel of the raiding party consuming chocolates at his Taman Duta house, Harpal said it was not solely the consumption of food but the manner the raid was conducted.
"Nobody was present to consent to the consumption of the chocolates except for a terrified employee. It is not particularly about the chocolates but the general tenor of way they did it. They are unhappy and feel disturbed about it, having had wedding and birthday gifts taken away," he said.