Media converge at Najib residence after conditional house arrest

KUALA LUMPUR: A media frenzy erupted outside former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's residence in Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur. Over thirty media practitioners had gathered outside the residence, anticipating the news of his house arrest. Najib had been granted house arrest for the remainder of his prison sentence, contingent upon his payment of the RM50 million fine imposed for his conviction in the SRC International case.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board announced the details of Najib's house arrest in a statement, stipulating that he must adhere to all conditions imposed to serve the remainder of his prison sentence until August 23, 2028. At the age of 73, Najib has been incarcerated at Kajang Prison since February 2024, serving a reduced six-year sentence after the board reduced his original 12-year sentence in February of the same year.

As the news spread, both local and international journalists began converging on the residence from 10 am, with no one moving in or out of the premises by 12:20 pm. Police were also present at the scene. Earlier, Hannah Yeoh, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), was spotted leaving Istana Negara at 9:43 am after attending a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board.

She was seen exiting the grounds in a Toyota Vellfire after spending nearly two hours at the Istana Negara. However, she did not engage with the media waiting outside Gate Two of Istana Negara. A vehicle believed to belong to Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar had also been seen entering Istana Negara to attend the meeting.