Lawyer Shafee rubbishes reports of Najib paying RM50m fine today for house arrest

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s lead defence counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, has dismissed reports suggesting that the imprisoned former prime minister is settling his RM50 million fine today for house arrest. Speaking to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Shafee denied receiving any instructions regarding a settlement, stating that such news may have been fabricated by reporters.

The settlement of the fine is necessary to activate the conditional pardon granted by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim in September, allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his reduced prison term under house detention until August 23, 2028, pending administrative terms set by authorities. However, despite the conditional pardon's lack of a rigid deadline, Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar confirmed that the prosecution has not received proof of settlement.

The fine remains unpaid, and Najib is expected to remain in Kajang Prison, where he was imprisoned in August 2022. Meanwhile, Umno’s crowdfunding campaign to help its former president cover the fine has yet to reach the RM50 million target.