Malaysia’s former PM Najib Razak wins appeal for house arrest bid

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently serving a corruption sentence, secured a legal victory on Monday when the Court of Appeals allowed him to pursue his bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Najib initially applied in April last year, claiming that then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had issued an addendum order permitting him to complete his sentence at home.

Najib said the order was issued during a pardons board meeting on 29 January last year, which also halved his 12-year jail term and significantly reduced his fine. However, the High Court dismissed his bid three months later.

In a 2-1 ruling on Monday, the Court of Appeals instructed the High Court to review the merits of Najib’s case.

This decision came after Najib’s lawyer, Mohamad Shafee Abdullah, presented a letter from a Pahang state palace official confirming the existence of the addendum order.

“We are happy that finally Najib has got a win,” Shafee said. “He is very happy and very relieved that finally they recognised some element of injustice that has been placed against him.”

The lawyer added that Najib, now 71, gave a thumbs-up in court when the verdict was delivered.

He described the government’s alleged concealment of the Sultan’s order as “criminal” and noted that a new High Court judge would preside over the case.

In his application, Najib accused the pardons board, the home minister, the attorney general, and four others of concealing the Sultan’s directive “in bad faith.”

Sultan Abdullah, who is from Najib’s hometown of Pahang, concluded his five-year reign on 30 January last year under Malaysia’s rotating monarchy system. His successor took office the following day.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has denied knowledge of such an order, stating that he was not a member of the pardons board. Other individuals named in Najib’s application have not commented publicly.

Najib served less than two years of his sentence before it was reduced by the pardons board. It is now set to end in late August 2028.

He was convicted in a corruption case tied to the multibillion-dollar embezzlement of the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The pardons board did not provide reasons for its decision and is not required to do so, but the move has sparked public criticism over perceived preferential treatment for Najib compared to other inmates.

Najib established the 1MDB fund shortly after assuming office in 2009. Investigators allege that at least $4.5 billion (€4.3 billion) was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najib’s associates through a complex network of accounts across the United States and other nations.

ADVERTISEMENT

The stolen money reportedly financed Hollywood films, luxury yachts, hotels, art, jewellery, and other extravagant purchases, with over $700 million (€676 million) allegedly deposited into Najib’s accounts.

Najib continues to face graft charges in the primary trial, which directly links him to the 1MDB scandal.

Additional sources • AP