Cash filled suitcases seized from houses linked to former Malaysian PM

The Associated Press reports that Malaysian police on Friday confiscated 284 designer handbags and 72 suitcases containing cash, jewellery from apartments linked to former PM Najib Razak at an upscale condominium in Kuala Lumpur. The bust is part of an extensive investigation into corruption and money laundering charges levelled against the former Prime Minister. Television stations showed footage of police carting away orange boxes containing handbags as well as luggage of various sizes from the condominium. According to the AP, the seizure included Birkin Hermes bags, cash in various currencies, watches and jewellery. Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, is known in Malaysia for her love for Birkin bags, which luxury publications say cost from $12,000 to more than $200,000. The AP reports that the police also conducted simultaneous raids at several other locations including Najib’s family house, his former office as prime minister and an official residence. New Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who led an opposition alliance to victory in May 9 polls that ended the 60-year rule of Najib’s coalition, has reopened the probe into 1MDB. He has said that an initial investigation showed the scale of wrongdoing by Najib’s administration was more serious than expected. He has said that arrests will be made when there is evidence, and there would be “no deal” with Najib.