Close to a marathon 24-hour search, a vast team of officers from Bukit Aman’s federal commercial crimes department are still combing through Najib’s house, seemingly with no end in sight.
Cracking a safe
According to Najib’s lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal, who spoke to the media in the evening, investigators are trying to crack a 20-year-old safe in the home after the key could not be located.
“The keys have been misplaced and this drilling has caused unnecessary mental distress to Najib’s family who was denied the right to conduct their religious obligations on the first day of Ramadan.
“The police have finished the major part of their searches, but they are now attempting to unlock this safe that has not been open for two decades and long before Najib became PM…God knows what’s in there,” he said to reporters.
According to the lawyer, the search has taken so long because the bungalow is big and the police have to search each room.
“There are no arrests now and no indication that there will be an arrest” he added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFpFpEl8hoE&feature=youtu.be&t=1
Seized items
Harpal confirmed that police have so far only taken several boxes of apparel, handbags and gifts from the compound, and not any documents.
He insisted that none of the seized items incriminated the former premier or his family members in any wrongdoing.
“It is a normal search warrant to carry out a search in accordance with the Anti Money-Laundering Act,” he said.
Asked if Najib was under house arrest, he said no, and that Najib was free to come and go as he wishes.
Black Maria leaves
At 4.45pm, the Black Maria left Najib’s Langgak Duta home with what appeared to be stacks of turquoise-coloured boxes and a bespectacled unknown man dressed in a light-coloured shirt.
The individual did not identify himself to members of the press despite repeated questions.
The Black Maria, often used to ferry convicted persons, was accompanied by two police outriders and a police car with the siren on.
It is not known where the entourage was going.
Lawyers converge
About an hour earlier, three lawyers converged at the house.
At 3.45pm, a black BMW X1 registered to lawyer Chan Mun Fong entered the premises. A woman was behind the wheel with an elderly-looking man in the passenger seat.
At 3.30pm, Umno lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican and his son were seen walking into the residence, ignoring questions from the media.
Hasnal previously represented Special Forces Commander Sirul Azhar Umar, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Just before their arrival, a Mercedes-Benz believed to be ferrying lawyer Harpal Singh Rewal departed from the house but turned back less than five minutes’ later.
Harpal had arrived at the residence at 11pm last night and left at 4am this morning, returning again at 12.15pm.
Coming and going
Activity at the scene has been mainly the coming and going of police vehicles, with several police cars remain parked out front of the house.
Curious onlookers have also been dropping by the scene to catch a glimpse of Najib’s sprawling mansion.
At 12.50pm, a fully-tinted black Toyota Alphard Vellfire carrying Mohamad Nizar, Najib’s son from his first marriage, arriving at the house.
Former Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was seen arriving at the residence at 12.40pm.
Chauffeured in a heavily-tinted black BMW, his visit was part of a two-car convoy, including a Proton Persona whose occupants remain unknown.
At 11.30am, a 65-year-old man who identified himself as Umno Port Dickson member and Najib’s longtime friend Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, walked towards the house but was turned away by police.
“I have come here as a friend of Najib, to come see him and boost his morale. But the police are not allowing him to have any visitors.
“Is he under house arrest or what?” he said to members of the press.
Earlier in the morning, several unmarked police vehicles were seen leaving with passengers wearing hoodies. One of them had his or her face covered.
Pavilion Residences
The New Straits Times reported that one of the homes being searched at Pavillion Residence belongs to the son of Najib and Rosmah.
Apparently, police are unable to enter another two condos as the owner, who is the couple’s daughter, is not home.
Earlier report: May 17, Police Search Five Premises Linked to Najib