Cops didn't steal RM43.3m during raids at Najib-linked residences — report

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 28): Federal Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Commissioner Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh has denied allegation that police stole RM43.3 million during raids at Pavilion Residences here, according to a Malaysiakini report.

He was responding to the allegation made by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin.

"He (Raja Petra) actually came with frivolous and vexatious claims against the police, and I will not stand quiet receiving such accusations because that is such a baseless accusation altogether," Amar was quoted as saying in the report today.

"He made a baseless accusation against the police. If he has got such credible information with him stating that indeed RM43 million was stolen, please lodge a report in Malaysia.

"Don't hide behind the cyber curtain," he added.

According to Malaysiakini, Raja Petra had been referring to a writ of summons filed by Umno in the High Court last week, which claimed that the police seized RM160 million from Pavilion Residences, instead of RM116.7 million as announced by the police.

As such, Umno had claimed that RM43.3 million went missing during the police raid.

In the report, Amar said the amount of cash in 26 currencies seized from the units in May was RM114 million.

"I would like to confirm 100% that the total amount recovered was RM114 million which was in 26 currencies," he said.

Amar added that Raja Petra had seized upon the discrepancy between two sums of money the police said it had confiscated from the former permier Datuk Seri Najib Razak-linked residences.

The confiscations had been announced by Amar in two different press conferences, held on May 25 and June 28 respectively.

Malaysiakini reported Amar as saying that Raja Petra's accusation was baseless, noting that it would be impossible to steal such a substantial amount of money during the raids.

"To accommodate RM43 million, you need 10 to 13 bags. With 40 policemen at the scene, a hundred CCTVs, and another 50 reporters waiting outside, and the only entrance is through the lift and the lobby, there's no way that money could be stolen out of the [premises]." — theedgemarkets.com

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