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Malaysia police raid complex linked to ex-PM Najib

Sunday, 13 May 2018 5:13 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 13 May 2018 10:28 AM ]

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak (photo by AFP)

Malaysian security forces have raided an apartment complex in Kuala Lumpur linked to former prime minister Najib Razak to search for confidential state documents that may have been illegally delivered to the site.

Dozens of police officers and plainclothes law-enforcement officers carried out the swoop at Pavilion Residences on Saturday after receiving a report that government vehicles with the logo of the department of the prime minister and cabinet on Thursday delivered 50 boxes of Birkin designer handbags — apparently for Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor — to the apartment complex, where Najib’s relatives reside.

It was not clear what was in the boxes. The Birkin designer handbags would cost $200,000 each.

But officers taking part in the raid said they were primarily looking for documents that could be vital for investigations into Najib’s administration.

“We are looking for government documents that may have been illegally taken,” a senior police officer who requested anonymity said. “The government is worried they could be sensitive and important [documents], and could be taken out of the country.”

Najib, who is accused of misappropriating billions of dollars through his pet project state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), had earlier said he was going abroad for a week, but was barred from leaving the country.

An alliance of political parties led by Mahathir Mohamad scored a stunning election victory on Wednesday, ousting Najib.

PressTV-Mahathir bans scandal-hit Najib from leaving Malaysia

Malaysia’s scandal-hit former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been banned from leaving the country, immigration officials say.

Meanwhile, jailed Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim will be released on Tuesday, the veteran politician’s daughter, Nurul Izzah, told media.

Mahathir, now the prime minister, said this week that all efforts were being made to release Anwar, a former foe, immediately and secure a full royal pardon for him from the country’s monarch.

Anwar was jailed in 2015 for charges he and his supporters say were politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the new prime minister has begun naming his cabinet members.

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