KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Police have been at former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house in Taman Duta for more than 18 hours carting away handbags and clothes packed in boxes, and trying to drill open an old safe that is claimed to have been locked for 20 years.

Najib’s lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal told reporters this evening that police from the commercial crime division have been in the house since 10pm yesterday, and were still there as at 6.30pm today.

“I am not sure if they have left already but they are trying to drill open a safe that has remained locked for two decades as the key had been misplaced. The drilling continues, and there is absolutely no peace and quiet at his residence,” he said.

Harpal said the search conducted and the items seized might be of insignficant value and the continued presence of police in the house, as well as the drilling was causing unwarranted harrasment on Najib and his family.

He added that the raid conducted in the Ramadhan month denied the right for them to conduct their religious obligations.

“Najib has already said he would give his fullest cooperation but this harrassment has now continued for 18 hours and nothing meaningful has come from the search and seizure of what appear to be insignificant personal items,” he said.

Yesterday, about 50 to 60 police personnel went to Najib’s house and cordoned off the surrounding road before informing the latter that they were conducting a search.

It is believed that the search is in relation to evidence-gathering pertaining to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) debt-laden fund which Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad promised to investigate.

Harpal said police broke into several groups and searched Najib’s house and opened several boxes of personal items including handbags and clothing.

“Although the police team said they would leave after packing the last box at 5am today, there are still a number of personnel outside the residence.

“Then at 8.30am, some officers went to a room on the first floor of the house and decided to drill open the safe. They are still there,” he said.