Kuala lumpur: Former Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh testified in the High Court today, revealing details of a police raid on a luxury Pavilion Residences condominium unit eight years ago, where bags of cash and jewellery were discovered spilling onto the floor.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Amar Singh, who retired in December 2018, recounted the discovery of 71 luggage bags, one plastic box, and 284 other boxes during the operation conducted at 5:30 pm on May 17, 2018. The raid was part of an investigation into premises linked to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his family concerning the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
Amar Singh, testifying on the second day of a US$14.57 million lawsuit filed by Lebanese jeweller Global Royalty Trading SAL against Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, described the overwhelming number of exhibits, including bags of cash that were not properly bundled, causing the contents to spill onto the floor. The lawsuit pertains to the alleged loss of over 40 pieces of jewellery.
During his cross-examination, Amar Singh explained the logistical challenges faced during the raid. The sheer volume of jewellery meant it was impossible to conduct an immediate inventory. He detailed how officers secured the bags with plastic wrapping to preserve the integrity of the exhibits before transporting them to Bukit Aman in five fully secured 'Black Maria' trucks, escorted by patrol cars.
In his witness statement, Amar Singh noted that the inspection and valuation of the jewellery were conducted over several weeks at Menara KPJ. After the process, the items were securely transported to Bank Negara for safekeeping.
The case highlights a lawsuit filed by Global Royalty on March 29, 2023, against Rosmah Mansor, alleging that she falsely claimed the jewellery, including diamond necklaces, bracelets, and tiaras, was seized by Malaysian authorities. The company contends that only one piece was retained by police while the remaining 43 pieces were not in custody, and accuses Rosmah of shifting responsibility to the Malaysian Government.