KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted former Prime Minister Najib Razak a conditional pardon on September 18, allowing the former leader to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. The decision marks the first time house arrest has been utilized as a form of royal clemency in the country.
Najib, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2022 following his conviction in a case involving the theft of funds from the state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In 2020, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 210 million ringgit for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering. In January 2024, the Pardons Board reduced his prison term to six years and lowered his fine to 50 million ringgit.
Under the terms of the conditional pardon, Najib is permitted to serve the remainder of his sentence at home until August 23, 2028, provided he pays the 50 million ringgit fine. The Home Ministry has not yet provided specific details regarding the conditions of the house arrest or clarified how the arrangement interacts with a separate 15-year prison sentence handed down in December 2025, which Najib is currently appealing.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended the decision, stating that the constitution grants the king broad powers. He urged the public to accept the ruling and emphasized that the government remains committed to its anti-corruption agenda. “I want to stress that the principle of the rule of law remains intact,” Anwar said.
The decision has drawn criticism from some political figures, including former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, who called for greater transparency regarding the conditions of the house arrest. The 1MDB scandal, which involved the alleged theft of at least US$4.5 billion, previously played a significant role in the 2018 electoral defeat of the long-ruling coalition.
Article source: www.malaysiasun.com | Image credit: www.malaysiasun.com