KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A Malaysian court has rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s request to serve the remainder of his corruption sentence under house arrest. Najib claimed that an addendum order, issued during a January 29 pardons board meeting chaired by then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, allowed him to finish his sentence at home. This meeting also reportedly reduced his 12-year jail sentence by half and significantly lowered his fine.
Najib’s lawyer, Mohamed Shafee Abdullah, expressed disappointment with the High Court’s ruling, which stated the government had “no legal duty” to verify the existence of such an order. Shafee argued that the government should have responded on ethical grounds and announced plans to appeal the decision.
Najib accused the pardons board, the home minister, the attorney-general, and four others of concealing the sultan’s order. Shafee claimed there was digital evidence of the addendum, with Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz having taken a photo of it on his mobile phone. Shafee suggested that the government’s silence implied the addendum’s existence.
Despite serving less than two years of his sentence, Najib’s term was commuted by the pardons board, with his release now scheduled for August 23, 2028. Najib was found guilty in a corruption case linked to the misappropriation of billions from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund, which he established in 2009. Investigators allege that at least $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, with more than $700 million ending up in Najib’s accounts.
The pardons board did not explain its decision, prompting public outcry over perceived special treatment for Najib. The Malaysian Bar has challenged the board’s decision, calling it illegal, unconstitutional, and invalid, arguing it undermines Najib’s other ongoing criminal cases.
