POLICE found so much money and jewellery that it overflowed from 71 suitcases, 284 handbag boxes and a transparent plastic box during a raid on a luxury residence at Pavilion Residences linked to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, on May 17, 2018.
Former Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh said this during the second day of the trial of a US$14.57 million lawsuit by Lebanese jewellery company Global Royalty Trading SAL over more than 40 pieces of jewellery at the High Court.
Amar Singh said the inspection of the residential unit was carried out because there were suspicious matters regarding evidence related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, reported Sinar Harian.
The second witness for the third party said that when he arrived at the residence at 6.30 pm, the unit was found empty without occupants.
“In one of the rooms in the unit, I, along with officers and members of the raid, found 71 pieces of luggage, one plastic box and more than 284 boxes containing handbags.
“A total of 35 bags containing cash of various currencies, 25 bags (jewellery), six bags (watches), three bags (sunglasses) and one bag each containing wallets, cases and jewellery.
“All the bags were packed in a hurry because I found money of various currencies scattered in the bags, and even the jewellery was wrapped in plastic.
“At first, we wanted to count each item, but upon opening several bags, the police found that the amount was too much.
“The bag containing cash was loosely packed, so the contents spilt out on the floor,” he said.
Similarly, the jewellery bag, he said, was so full that the police were unable to count and list the items.
The pensioner said he could not imagine having to write down each piece of jewellery involved.
Responding to a question from Senior Federal Counsel Liew Horng Bin, who represented a third party, Amar Singh said that the police who conducted the raid were not experts in determining whether all the items were gold or diamonds, genuine or fake.
Horng Bin: Why didn’t they just take the items from the residential unit?
Amar Singh: Firstly, as I said earlier, there was too much evidence; secondly, the premises did not have air conditioning; thirdly, we do not have the equipment to weigh and measure the items involved, and finally, we do not have the expertise to verify each piece of evidence.
Amar, who retired from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) in December 2018, then decided to wrap the bags in plastic wrap, similar to the one used to wrap luggage at the airport.
This step, he said, can ensure that the bags are safe and the integrity of the evidence is maintained.
“Only after all the evidence is sealed, do we allow all members to leave.
“All the evidence was then sent to the lockup in Bukit Aman using five ‘Black Marias which are tightly closed and securely locked.
“On the way, each vehicle was accompanied by a patrol car, and our team followed the convoy to ensure that the evidence arrived at Bukit Aman in its original condition before being sent to Bank Negara Malaysia,” he said.
After counting, he said, there were 1,041 pieces of jewellery found in the marked bags stored in the unit’s room.
Through a witness statement, Amar said that a money laundering investigation officer and a representative of Global Royalty Trading SAL had made an identification of one of the pieces of jewellery.
He said that one piece of jewellery had been identified and returned to the company involved.
On March 29, 2023, Global Royalty sued Rosmah and claimed that she lied that 44 pieces of jewellery, including a diamond necklace, earrings, rings, bracelets and a tiara that the company's agent had handed over to her were seized by Malaysian authorities for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering, Prevention of Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The Beirut-based company claimed that only one of the 44 pieces of jewellery involved was in the custody and control of the police, while the remaining 43 were not in their custody.
Global Royalty then claimed that Rosmah had placed the responsibility on the Malaysian Government when, in fact, the jewellery had been lost.
Proceedings before Judge, Datuk Quay Chew Soon, continue. – April 14, 2026
