By Karim Hammam
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak is set to leave prison for house arrest after his political party paid a 50 million ringgit ($12.3 million) fine required under the terms of a royal pardon.
Royal pardon conditions
Najib, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2022 when Malaysia’s top court upheld his conviction in a case linked to the multi-billion dollar looting of the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In September, the king granted him a rare royal clemency allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence for graft under house arrest, contingent on payment of the fine.
Party completes payment
Asyraf Wajid Dusuki, secretary-general of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), said the party had collected sufficient funds through a donation drive and completed payment at the High Court on Friday. The payment fulfills a key condition attached to the pardon.
Transfer timing unclear
The exact timing of Najib’s transfer from prison to house arrest was not immediately clear. Police were stationed at his residence in Kuala Lumpur early Friday and the road leading to his home was blocked.
