That includes luxury handbags, jewelry, various other goods, and even cash, and they were seized as part of a wide-ranging investigation into 1MDB, a state investment firm that is embroiled in a massive scandal in Malaysia and from which Razak is accused of embezzling millions. In case you’re wondering what a career in federal embezzlement can get you, the authorities estimate that the total value of Razak’s seized jewelry alone comes to over $109 million, and 567 seized upscale handbags from brands including Hermes, Prada, Versace and Chanel, and more came to $12 million. That, when added to the $100 million worth of cash and “other luxury goods” is how we arrive at the above $225 million figure. And Singh had some more big talk regarding the scope of the raid, explaining to the press why the seized items couldn’t be totaled right away: “The amount was just too huge. This is the biggest seizure in Malaysian history.” The single most expensive item seized by the authorities was a gold necklace with white diamonds, estimated to be worth $1.5 million. And interestingly, it’s much less expensive gold necklaces which figure into a parallel investigation by the US Justice Department. Malaysian financier Jho Low allegedly used $1.3 million in misappropriated funds to purchase 27 18-carat gold necklaces and bracelets for a man widely reported to be Razak’s wife. The seizures took place in May, shortly after he lost re-election in a surprise upset against Mahathir Mohamad, who has pledged to hold him accountable for his misconduct.
