Police said they confiscated 284 handbags, mostly Birkins, and 72 suitcases containing cash, jewellery, watches and other valuable items that filled five police trucks from the condominium, as well as dozens of other designer handbags, cash and more valuables from Najib’s house.

The labels on some of the boxes described some of the bags as a “navy blue crocodile skin with diamond”, a “blue with diamante” crocodile skin Hermes and a grey crocodile skin Hermes. All appeared to be new and bought abroad, including in Paris and Switzerland in 2013 and 2015. Luxury publications say a Birkin can cost from US$12,000 to more than US$200,000.

Rosmah’s fetish for bags has been compared to Marcos’ collection of shoes. More than 1,200 pairs of designer shoes including gold-trimmed imports were found in the Philippine presidential palace after her husband president Ferdinand Marcos was toppled by a so-called people power revolt.

Rosmah was reviled by many Malaysians as an avaricious first lady and similar to Marcos, her collection of bags and jewellery, which is said to include a US$23 million rare pink diamond necklace bought with 1MDB money, reflected the extent of the family’s excesses.

US investigators say Najib’s associates stole and laundered US$4.5 billion from the fund, some of which also landed in Najib’s bank account. Najib, whose coalition was ousted in a stunning election defeat after 60 years in power last week, denies any wrongdoing.

An official at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said Najib has been summoned for questioning as part of its 1MDB probe. The official, who declined to be named because the case is sensitive, said a notice has been served on Najib to appear at the commission’s office on Tuesday.

Police commercial crime chief Amar Singh said simultaneous raids were also conducted at several other locations including Najib’s family home, his former office as prime minister and an official residence. Documents related to 1MDB were taken from the office and police are still trying to crack open a safe in Najib’s house, he said.

Singh declined to say whether the haul would lead to an indictment of Najib. The search for evidence continues, he said.

Social media was filled with comments from angry Malaysians who want to see Najib and his wife jailed. In contrast, Mahathir was lauded for being thrifty after being spotted at an event wearing a US$4 pair of locally made sandals.

Mahathir, 92, reopened a probe into 1MDB after leading an opposition alliance to victory in the May 9 polls. He was prime minister for 22 years until 2003 but emerged from retirement spurred by anger over the 1MDB scandal.

Mahathir, now the world’s oldest elected leader, has said initial investigations showed the scale of wrongdoing by Najib’s administration was more serious than thought. He said arrests will be made when there is evidence, and there would be “no deal” with Najib.

Police have spent 20 hours since Wednesday night searching Najib’s house. Najib and his wife have been barred from travelling overseas.

Mahathir has said the government will try to retrieve billions of dollars laundered from 1MDB to repay government debts that have piled up over the years. The government has also told the current attorney general, who cleared Najib of wrongdoing in 2016, to go on leave, and relieved the country’s treasury chief, who is also the 1MDB chairman.