Malaysian high court clears final hurdle for former Prime Minister Najib’s transfer to house arrest

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — On Tuesday, Malaysia's high court removed all legal barriers for former Prime Minister Najib Razak's transfer to house arrest to complete his punishment for corruption. Najib, who has been incarcerated since August 2022, will serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest at his residence in Kuala Lumpur until August 23, 2028.

His lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, announced the final resolution of the matter, expressing relief for Najib who had been eagerly anticipating this outcome. The house arrest applies solely to the six-year portion of his first graft conviction, not the separate 15-year sentence handed down last December for corruption and money laundering in connection with the 1MDB scandal.

Najib, who led Malaysia from 2009 to 2018, maintains his innocence in both cases. If his appeal against the 15-year sentence is unsuccessful, he may return to prison once his house arrest concludes.