Malaysian king grants house arrest to jailed ex-PM Najib

TLE Desk: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who is serving prison sentences over his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal, has been granted house arrest subject to a fine of 50 million ringgit ($12.3 million), officials said on Friday.

Najib, 73, will be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, under a conditional pardon granted by Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim, according to officials from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office.

The conditional pardon requires Najib to pay the 50 million ringgit fine and comply with all stipulated conditions. Failure to do so would automatically revoke the pardon and require him to return to prison.

Najib was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison in July 2020 in a case involving funds diverted from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. A pardons board later reduced his prison term by half and cut his fine to 50 million ringgit.

A Malaysian judge rejected an earlier request by Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at home late last year.

The former premier was subsequently sentenced to another 15 years in prison in December in a separate case linked to the 1MDB scandal. He is appealing that sentence, which is due to begin after completion of his current term.

Najib has also been fined 11.4 billion ringgit over his role in the wider corruption scandal, which involved the state investment fund 1MDB.

Prosecutors accused Najib of abusing his positions as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s advisory board to channel large sums from the fund into his personal accounts.

Investigators said money from the fund was used to finance luxury property, a yacht and valuable artworks, including works by Monet and Van Gogh. Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, has also faced corruption allegations in investigations linked to the scandal.