Former Malaysian Police Chief Describes Overwhelming Scale of Luxury Seizure in 1MDB Investigation

Retired cop Amar Singh testifies that 2018 raids found 12,000 pieces in single chains, making immediate itemization of seized luxury goods impossible.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 6:01 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

The Logistic Challenges of a Massive Asset Seizure

The sheer volume of jewelry recovered during raids linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigation made immediate tabulation impossible, according to testimony delivered in Malaysia’s High Court on April 14. Former Commercial Crime Investigation Department Director Amar Singh Ishar Singh explained that investigators were stunned by the quantity of luxury items discovered within a unit at Pavilion Residences. The retired official noted that while the initial intent was to catalog every exhibit, the team quickly realized that the number of pieces in each bag was overwhelming and beyond their immediate capacity to manage.

Visual Accounts of Overflowing Luxury Goods and Cash

According to the witness, investigators encountered luggage bags filled to the brim with assorted chains and jewelry pieces. In one instance, a bag containing cash was so poorly secured that its contents spilled onto the floor when moved, necessitating an immediate effort to push the currency back inside. The retired director emphasized that the team lacked both the specialized weighing equipment and the forensic expertise required to determine the authenticity of diamonds or gold on-site. Faced with this logistical hurdle, the police opted to secure the bags using plastic airport-style wrapping to maintain the chain of custody.

A High Security Convoy to Central Police Headquarters

The transportation of the seized assets required a significant security operation involving five police trucks, commonly known as Black Marias. Each vehicle was escorted by patrol cars in a strict convoy to the Bukit Aman lock-up to ensure that the original condition of the exhibits was preserved. According to Amar Singh, the entire team monitored the transition in batches, only allowing personnel to leave after the items were sealed within the facility. This protocol was established to protect the integrity of the evidence before a formal valuation could be conducted by experts.