Najib’s Lawyer Wants Government to Pay for Using Perm Markers to Write on Seized Rosmah’s Bags

If you’ve never heard of the “1MDB scandal”, you might think it’s a K-pop band that got involved in illegal gambling or something.

But it’s actually short for the “1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal”, an ongoing political scandal in Malaysia involving former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib was accused of funneling over RM 2.67 billion (S$800 million) from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a government-run strategic development company, to his personal bank accounts.

Months after Najib lost the 2018 election, the authorities conducted raids on properties linked to Najib and his wife and seized items – including handbags and jewellery -amounting to more than US$270 million.

Even though both Najib and his wife face time in jail, his lawyer is a little upset with the government at the moment.

Why?

Because police officers had written numbers on his wife’s handbags.

Najib’s Lawyer Wants Government to Pay for Using Perm Markers to Write on Seized Rosmah’s Bags

Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said that hundreds of handbags belonging to Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, had suffered serious damage after they were seized by the police.

According to CNA, Rosmah was the primary target for the Malaysian public’s wrath during the 1MDB scandal, as she was criticised for her extravagant spending.

“Extravgant spending” might be putting it lightly, though.

In their raids, the police found more than 500 top-range handbags and over 12,000 pieces of jewellery in the pair’s properties.

But despite the fact that these handbags were allegedly purchased using stolen public money, Abdullah is not pleased that the police used permanent marker to write exhibit numbers on these bags, saying they “showed absolutely no respect for the goods”.

Abdullah said that the officers had been “careless about the way they handled the precious exhibits” and may have caused millions of dollars in damage.

“Now the government should be responsible to pay for the damage or replace the products”, he said.

So, Najib allegedly stole money from the public, used it to buy some luxury items, and is now upset with the government for marking these items during a raid?

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Netizen Reaction 

Netizens were clearly unsympathetic to the former first lady’s handbag plight, taking pleasure in the damage done.

Anyway I hope the handbags are ok because we may need to sell them to get our money back 😌

— 𝗔𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝘇𝘂𝗮𝗻 (@ayshardzn) June 10, 2020

This is so tragic, I have no words. Sending my thoughts and prayers. https://t.co/3HmMVPYT6z

— Faizal Hamssin (@faizalhamssin) June 10, 2020

pic.twitter.com/13LRGkW9Ub

— Sir Digby Chicken Caesar (@izwnhzmn) June 10, 2020

Ma’am will be so devastated. Susah payah kumpul collection beg mahal2.

— Hafiz (@Hafiz_Sima) June 10, 2020

Facing Lengthy Jail Terms

Next month, Najib will have to go to court to be sentenced, and if he’s found guilty, he could be in jail for a long, long time.

According to CNA, the judge will hand down a verdict on 28 Jul.

Najib, however, is denying all wrongdoings.

His lawyers say that he was ignorant of all the transactions involved in the scandal and have asked the judge to clear the 66-year-old of the seven charges of corruption and money-laundering.

His wife, Rosmah, is also on trial for corruption charges and faces 20 years in jail if convicted.

But the pair are presumably too heartbroken by their damaged handbags to think about long jail terms and hefty fines.

Hopefully, those poor handbags will get the justice they deserve.