This photograph made available by Singapore's The Straits Times shows Royal Malaysian police officials taking away boxes of seized goods during a night raid in Kuala Lumpur early on May 18, 2018, on three luxury apartments owned by former prime minister Najib Razak's family. - AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's scandal-hit former leader Najib Razak and his wife hit out at the media and police yesterday, after investigators seeking evidence of corruption were filmed seizing box loads of jewelry, luxury handbags and cash. Following a surprise victory in an election on May 9, the new government led by Mahathir Mohamad has opened investigations into how billions of dollars disappeared from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund founded by Najib.

Najib, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, have been barred from leaving the country. Items seized by police from Najib's residence and other locations linked to the couple included 284 boxes of designer handbags, including prized Birkin handbags from Hermes. Dozens of the luxury bags were filled with cash and jewelry.

Najib's lawyer, Harpal Singh Grewal, told reporters waiting outside the house that the former prime minister and his family were "really very unhappy" that police had confiscated clothes and shoes belonging to his children. "No attempt was made to verify whether these dresses, shoes, babies clothes and all had anything to do with the investigations which are ongoing," he said. In a separate statement, Grewal said the raid was carried out in a "cavalier and irresponsible manner".

"The police personnel helped themselves to food and chocolates in the refrigerator and further demanded that the meals be prepared for them," he said, adding that Najib will continue to cooperate with authorities. The former premier will make a statement to the Malaysian anti-graft agency at his home on Tuesday, Grewal told reporters. A police spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment.

Malaysia's unpopular former first lady lamented the "trying times" since her husband Najib's ouster from power, in a plea for public sympathy. Rosmah, who is widely reviled for her reported luxurious tastes and tone-deaf attitude towards the struggles of ordinary Malaysians, issued a statement lashing out at the police raids, complaining that news of them amounted to a "premature public trial". The former first couple's world has been turned upside down after Najib's long-ruling political machine suffered a shock defeat in May 9 elections.

"It is our hope that the authorities would observe the rule of law and due process, to avoid a premature public trial," Rosmah's lawyers, Valen, Oh and Partners, said in a statement on her behalf. "Enforcement agencies should not be feeding social media trolls, but observe and uphold strict professionalism at all times," it added.

"Despite the overwhelmingly trying times afflicted upon us, we have, and will continue facilitating, any inquiry, and avail ourselves to any requesting authorities," Rosmah said in the statement. But she complained about "the seemingly compromised inquiry process, whereby a series of leaks pertaining to the probe has made its way into social media spheres, in real time". Rosmah said she was referring to "the alleged items confiscated," but did not elaborate. Rosmah said authorities should "observe the rule of law and due process, to avoid a premature public trial" and not leak information to "social media trolls".

Her call for sympathy is likely to fall on more than a few deaf ears. Rosmah, 66, is widely mocked for her imperious manner and reports of multi-million-dollar jewellery purchases and a vast supply of designer handbags that has earned comparisons to the famed shoe collection of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos. Among other missteps, Rosmah complained in 2015 about the 1,200 ringgit ($300) house calls from stylists required to keep her pronounced mane of hair dyed black. Malaysia's minimum monthly wage at the time was 900 ringgit. The couple's downfall has sparked glee on Malaysian social media, including viral pics of a disheveled-looking Najib and Rosmah dozing in chairs at their home early Thursday as police conducted an overnight search.

At least six countries, including the United States, are investigating the multi-billion dollar scandal linked to 1MDB. Najib has been instructed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to make his statement at its headquarters on Tuesday in relation to their probe on SRC International, MACC's deputy chief commissioner, Azam Baki said in a statement yesterday night. SRC International was a former unit of 1MDB. A member of a panel that reviewed the MACC's files on 1MDB found that the commission had evidence that Najib received $10.6 million from the unit.

The round-the-clock search at their residence have prompted some public criticism, including Najib's political rivals who are now in government. "As former victims of early dawn police raids, I must stress my disagreement in ransacking any home at such an ungodly hour," said ruling coalition politician Nurul Izzah, the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim - a reformist who was released from jail after being given a full pardon on Wednesday. "Charge, investigate, prudently," Nurul said on Twitter. - Agencies