Najib cannot afford RM50m pardon payment, says lawyer

Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak cannot afford the RM50 million payment required under the conditions of his pardon, according to his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. Shafee stated that Najib faced a dilemma as he was required to make the payment, but lacked the funds due to the freezing of his bank accounts.

The lawyer revealed that Najib's bank accounts, including one at Affin Bank, had been frozen, as it was used to receive his salary while serving as prime minister and an MP. Shafee also noted that Najib had not sought public donations to fulfill the RM50 million payment, as it was not within his scope of responsibility. The payment is one of the conditions attached to Najib's reduced sentence under the Pardons Board's decision in the SRC International case, which lowered his prison term from 12 years to six years and reduced the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.

The lawyer expressed concern over the delay in Najib receiving the official letter confirming the conditions of his conditional pardon, as it was crucial for understanding the scope of the pardon and determining subsequent actions. Shafee stated that Najib's defense team and the Prisons Department had yet to receive the letter, which had been delayed for eight days.