THE total value of cash, jewelry and hundreds of watches and handbags seized from properties linked to former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in a money-laundering investigation amounted to at least US$273 million, police said yesterday, calling the haul “the biggest in Malaysian history.”

The items comprised 12,000 pieces of jewelry, 567 handbags, 423 watches and 234 sunglasses, said commercial crime investigations chief Amar Singh. The jewelry includes 2,200 rings, 1,400 necklaces, 2,100 bracelets, 2,800 pair of earrings, 1,600 brooches and 14 tiaras, he said.

“Definitely we are shocked. This is the biggest seizure in Malaysia’s history,” he told a news conference.

Allegations of corruption at the defunct 1MDB state investment fund that Najib set up led to his shocking defeat and the end of the 60-year unbroken rule of his coalition in May 9 elections. Najib and his wife have been barred from leaving the country and have both been grilled by anti-graft officials. They have denied any wrongdoing.

Police have raided 12 locations, including Najib’s family home and apartments at a high-end Kuala Lumpur condominium, as part of the probe into a criminal breach of trust involving the 1MDB fund.

Singh said among the most expensive valuables were a 6.4 million ringgit (US$1.6 million) diamond necklace and a 3.5 million ringgit Rolex Daytona watch. (SD-Agencies)