Najib house arrest decision first of its kind in Malaysia, says lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak received an unprecedented conditional pardon, enabling him to complete his remaining prison term under house arrest, says renowned lawyer Datuk N Sivananthan. Sivananthan, the first Malaysian admitted to the International Criminal Court, explained that prisoners have previously been relocated for health reasons, but this situation differs as the Pardons Board specifically granted house arrest for the remainder of Najib's sentence.

The implementation of this decision raises critical questions about monitoring procedures and overseeing Najib during his house arrest, including the presence of officers and visitor regulations. These matters must be determined by directives and procedures established by the Prisons Department. On September 18, the 64th Pardons Board Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya granted Najib a conditional pardon allowing him to serve his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to a RM50 million fine and other conditions.

The fine must be paid at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, where it was originally ordered following Najib's conviction on seven charges related to SRC International Sdn Bhd. Once the fine is paid and verified by the court, Najib can commence his house arrest.