Singapore
Malaysia’s jailed former prime minister Najib Razak is working to meet conditions that would allow him to leave prison and serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, his lawyers said on Sunday.
Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, must fulfil several conditions following Malaysia’s king agreeing on Friday to allow him to serve his sentence at home. A key requirement is the payment of a 50-million-ringgit ($12 million) fine, according to his legal team.
However, his lawyers said Najib’s ability to meet the financial condition remains uncertain because a significant portion of his assets, bank accounts and properties are subject to government freeze orders and enforcement proceedings.
Najib was convicted in connection with the embezzlement of billions of dollars linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the state investment fund he co-founded while in office. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.
The decision allowing house arrest represents Najib’s second royal pardon related to his conviction in the multi-billion-dollar financial scandal. The arrangement will require further administrative steps before it can take effect.
Malaysia’s Prisons Department said on Sunday that it and the Home Affairs Ministry were awaiting official written confirmation of the pardon before taking action. Under Malaysian law, the home affairs minister can gazette a private residence as a prison, potentially allowing Najib’s home to be designated as the place where he serves the remainder of his sentence.
Najib’s lawyers said he had been “deeply moved” by the public support following the decision. UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Friday that a fundraising campaign would be launched among party members and supporters to help Najib pay the fine. Local media reported that the campaign had collected nearly 1 million ringgit.
The development comes as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multi-party government faces growing tensions over its handling of corruption-related issues.