In brief
Najib Razak was escorted back to Kajang Prison on Friday evening after paying a 50‑million‑ringgit fine tied to his SRC International corruption case and undergoing a medical examination. The Attorney‑General’s Chambers postponed the transfer to house arrest, citing a need for further legal clarification on the royal pardon and court order. The move follows years of legal battles that reduced Najib’s original 12‑year sentence to six years and cut the fine from 210 million to 50 million ringgit.
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was escorted back to Kajang Prison on Friday evening after a medical examination at Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the payment of a 50‑million‑ringgit fine related to his SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case, Xinhua reported. The fine payment fulfilled one condition of the 2024‑approved conditional pardon that had allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Earlier on Friday, Najib’s special officer, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, appeared at the Kuala Lumpur High Court criminal registry to arrange the fine payment and complete the administrative procedures. Najib’s lawyer Farhan Shafee confirmed that the court had issued a house arrest order, but a vehicle believed to carry the former prime minister was later seen leaving the prison compound.
The Attorney‑General’s Chambers released a statement on Friday afternoon saying that the implementation of Najib’s house arrest had been temporarily deferred pending further legal clarification. The agency added that Najib should remain at his existing detention facility until the necessary orders are issued, a decision that came after a review of the royal pardon and court order.
Background: The SRC International Case and Sentence Reduction
Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022 for abuse of power connected to SRC International, a former unit of Malaysia’s state investment fund 1MDB. In 2024, a Malaysian federal court reduced his 12‑year sentence to six years and cut the fine from 210 million to 50 million ringgit. A September decision by the Prime Minister’s Department granted him a conditional pardon that would allow him to serve the rest of his term under house arrest, subject to the fine payment and compliance with other conditions.
The court‑ordered house arrest had been scheduled for 2026, a measure that was expected to allow Najib to serve his sentence under less restrictive conditions. However, the Attorney‑General’s recent clarification means the transfer will be delayed until the legal status of the pardon and the court order is resolved.
Legal Review and Government Actions
According to a Reuters article published on November 6, the Attorney‑General intervened to halt Najib’s transfer to house arrest pending a legal review of the royal pardon and the court order that had granted him that status. The decision reflects concerns over the accuracy of the pardon’s terms and the applicability of the court order.
The Straits Times also reported that Malaysia had stopped the transfer to house arrest, stating that the Attorney‑General postponed the move to ensure all aspects of the legal process were in order. The decision was made in light of the high‑profile nature of the case and the political ramifications it continues to carry.
These developments come as Najib remains in custody, with authorities awaiting the completion of the legal review before making a final decision on whether he will continue to serve the rest of his sentence at Kajang Prison or be released under house arrest.
