KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 5): Some RM114 million in cash seized during a dramatic raid at Pavilion Residences in 2018 has been returned to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak via his representative, according to a source.

This came after the High Court on May 20 dismissed the application by the government to forfeit the money, followed by the prosecution’s move not to appeal against the decision.

The RM114 million, which was mostly in foreign currencies and purportedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), was claimed by Najib, a former president of Umno, and by the party itself.

A source close to the case told The Edge today that the money was returned through a representative of Najib, but it was not clear if the cash was given to Umno.

The Edge has reached out to Umno’s lawyers and is awaiting their response. 

Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin, who dismissed the forfeiture suit on May 20, did not make any order as to whom the money should be returned to.

The RM114 million was seized during a police raid on a luxury condominium unit owned by OBYU Holdings Sdn Bhd on May 17, 2018, shortly after the previous general election.

Justice Jamil in his judgement said the prosecution had failed to prove that the money was obtained from illegal activities.

The judge also said that the prosecution had failed to bring any evidence that the cash originated from 1MDB.

As the case was decided on May 20, the last stipulated day to file the notice of appeal should have been June 3 — before the implementation of the full lockdown.

It is understood that the matter was referred to Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, who was said to have decided not to file the appeal.

The condo raid yielded between RM900 million and RM1.1 billion worth of valuables, including close to 12,000 pieces of luxurious jewellery, handbags, watches and cash. 

The hearings with regard to the non-cash assets have yet to begin.