Najib shocked RM3.5 mil stolen by guards on May 9
FMT Reporters | August 9, 2018
Former PM wants authorities to return money to Umno.
The suspects have been placed under remand for five days. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has expressed disbelief that RM3.5 million was allegedly taken out from his office by his own security guards on May 9.
Citing a statement, Malaysiakini reported the former Umno president as saying that the money belonged to Umno’s election war chest and demanded that the authorities who seized the money from his ex-security personnel to return it to the party.
“There are still a lot of bills and commitments incurred during the 14th general election (GE14), involving the 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats that need to be paid (by Barisan Nasional and Umno),” read the statement.
This comes after the portal reported sources as claiming that the security personnel tasked with guarding the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya had stolen money on the night of May 9 after they noticed that BN was losing heavily and a new government would be taking office.
The men allegedly decided to take something for themselves before BN lost power that night.
“The cash was seized after being hurriedly transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office to apartments the day after the election for eventual transfer to the new Umno president,” Najib said.
Najib told the news portal he was unsure why the money was not stored in safes. He said it could have been a late campaign contribution.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has since arrested all 17 of Najib’s ex-security personnel.
They are currently detained under a five-day remand order for misusing their office and position for gratification.
MACC has also seized RM840,700 in cash together with nine motorcycles worth RM90,000.
The authorities are believed to have grown suspicious after noticing the suspects’ new purchases of motorcycles.
Najib has asked the authorities to give the suspects a fair trial.
