Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is seeking to have the government produce an addendum order by the former king that would allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. His lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, informed the High Court that Najib wanted to secure an additional affidavit to support his application, but did not reveal the identity of the witness. The witness is currently out of the country and will return after Hari Raya Puasa on Apr 10. Najib claimed that the former king had issued the order for him to be under house arrest during a meeting of the Pardons Board on Jan 29, one day before the former king ended his reign.
On Feb 2, the Pardons Board announced that Najib’s jail sentence for corruption had been reduced from 12 to six years, and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. Najib alleged that he received confirmation on Feb 12 about the addendum order by the former king, which would allow him to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence under house arrest instead of in Kajang Prison. He has been imprisoned since Aug 23, 2022, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for criminal breach of trust, power abuse, and money laundering related to the misappropriation of funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
Najib’s application for a judicial review will be heard on Apr 17 in the Malaysian High Court. The former king, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang, reportedly issued the order for Najib to be under house arrest during the meeting of the Pardons Board. The former king’s reign as Malaysia’s monarch ended shortly after the purported order was issued, and Najib claims that the order was meant to allow him to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest.
The specific details of the addendum order and the circumstances surrounding its issuance are still unclear, as Najib’s lawyer has not revealed the identity of the critical witness who would support their application. The witness is currently out of the country and will only return after the Hari Raya Puasa celebration. Najib alleges that the addendum order by the former king would have allowed him to serve his reduced sentence under house arrest, a more lenient option than remaining in Kajang Prison.
Najib’s claim of receiving confirmation about the addendum order on Feb 12 raises questions about the timing and validity of the order, as well as the potential implications for his ongoing legal battles. The reduction of his sentence and fine by the Pardons Board has already garnered attention, and the addition of the addendum order in support of house arrest could further complicate the legal proceedings. The upcoming hearing on Apr 17 will likely shed more light on the situation and the potential implications for Najib’s future.
The controversy surrounding Najib’s bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest highlights ongoing political tensions and legal battles in Malaysia. The involvement of the former king in issuing the purported order adds another layer of complexity to the situation, raising questions about the extent of royal powers and influence in the country’s legal system. The outcome of the upcoming hearing on Apr 17 will be closely watched by both supporters and critics of Najib, as it could have significant implications for his legal case and political future.
