KUALA LUMPUR: A safe has been found, and it's being drilled open - this is what the police have found at the Taman Duta residence of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Najib's lawyer Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal said that a police team began drilling into the safe at 8.30am today (May 17).
Harpal said that the safe was found in a first floor room of the residence, adding that the drilling of the safe had to be done as the key had been misplaced.
He said that the drilling of the safe had continued past 5pm and that the safe has not been opened in two decades.
On the search itself, Harpal said that 50 to 60 police personnel from the Commercial Crime Investigation Division (CCID) "suddenly arrived" at Najib's residence around 10pm and cordoned off the surrounding roads.
The police informed him and Najib that they intended to conduct a search of the residence and the former prime minister agreed to cooperate fully.
He said that the police conducted themselves in a professional manner as they searched every part of Najib's residence.
The police had opened up several boxes containing personal belongings which had been packed and brought in from his client's official residence (in Putrajaya).
"The search continued till about 5am, when about three boxes of personal items including handbags and clothing were taken by the police," said Harpal.
He criticised the timing of the raid, saying that Najib's family and staff were unable to properly conduct their religious obligations prior to the breaking of fast on the first day of Ramadan.
"The ongoing cordoning of the road has (also) caused severe inconvenience and annoyance to his neighbours," he added.
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