KUALA LUMPUR (May 25): Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) has confirmed that the amounts of cash seized from an empty apartment in the high-end Pavilion area amounted to RM114 million, higher than the RM110 million that was previously reported. 

"Based on our investigation, I can confirm that we have seized 284 boxes of handbags, and also packed various items in 72 boxes. Of the total boxes, 35 boxes contained hard cash that was totaling RM114 million, and the remaining 37 boxes contained jewelleries and watches," PDRM Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh told reporters today. 

According to Amar Singh, the RM114 million cash were denominated in 26 currencies, the bulk of which were in ringgit, US dollars and Singapore dollars. 

"The RM114 million was the correct tally as of the May 24 exchange rate. It was found in one of the three apartments that we had raided in Pavilion on May 18," Amar Singh added. 

Declining to identify the owner of the empty apartment, Amar Singh confirmed that the other two apartments were linked to the two children of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak: Nooryana Najwa Najib and Ashman Najib.

"The raid that we have conducted were part of the other raids at other 12 premises. All of this is linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case, " he said. 

Amar Singh said 11 currency counting machines were used to count the monies, adding that the PDRM also sought assistance from 21 officers from Bank Negara Malaysia, and one audit executive from Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd. 

The counting was completed over a three-day day period, from May 21 to May 23.

"Currently, the hard cash is kept at BNM, which is the safest place to store it," he added. 

As for the next step, Amar Singh said PDRM will be verifying the authenticity of the jewelleries and watches contained in the remaining 37 boxes, with several luxury apparel manufacturer in Paris, France. 

"We will be contacting the relevant manufacturers to verify the authenticity of the jewelleries and watches, and hopefully by the comes up with a relevant estimates," he added. 

As for the raid, Amar said it was investigated under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which deals with criminal breach of trust by public servant or agent.

"When we conducted the raid, it was done lawfully, professionally and backed by search warrants," Amar added.