Friday's seizures at residential units no connection to 1MDB: Najib's lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak claims that the recent seizure at his family's two residential units at Jalan Raja Chulan here early Friday were of personal belongings and have no connection to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) cases, according to his lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal.
He said Najib expressed disappointment over the indiscriminate manner in which Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) raided the condominiums occupied by his children, Nor Ashman and Nooryana Najwa (Gina), claiming that the raids did not follow the standard of procedures (SOP).
Harpal claimed that the search conducted at Gina's condominium was done in her absence and only her maid was in attendance.
"It is a great shock to the family that the items seized from room number one are clothing and shoes which belong to her personally and have been purchased or gifted to her over the years.
"More disappointing, the couple's wedding gifts were seized and removed by the raiding party without any attempt to identify the nature of the items seized. Other than that, police also seized several pairs of baby shoes and attire purchased for the couple's young child," Harpal told a media conference in front of Najib's residence at Langgak Duta, here, today.
He said in Ashman's condominium, his personal items like old handphones, lpads and a laptop were seized.
"All these items are working tools of Ashman who is gainfully employed. Moreover, his assistant's belongings like watches, and laptop was also seized," he said.
According to Harpal, Gina has been gainfully employed by an established international private equity fund and is a successful woman in her own right and her husband is also a successful businessman in his own right and comes from a well-to-do family.
"The seizures made is reflected by the manner in which the police personnel helped themselves to food and chocolates in the refrigerator and further demanded that the meals be prepared for them.
Moreover, Harpal said that the wide publicity surrounding the seizure of what are basically personal items belonging to the children has caused acute humiliation and embarrassment to the family.
"Both the occupants of the condominiums appeal to the CCID to quickly return all personal effects and avoid causing further embarrassment and distress to the family. There is no relevance and no prima facie evidence for this seizure to take place," Harpal said. — Bernama