Najib Razak is anticipated to transition from prison to house arrest after a fine has been paid. (Pic Credit: Reuters)
Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak is expected to be transferred from prison to house arrest after his political party paid a fine of 50 million ringgit (USD 12.3 million), fulfilling a key condition of his royal pardon, according to the news agency AP. Meanwhile, police personnel were deployed outside Najib’s home in Kuala Lumpur early Friday, while the road leading to the property was closed to traffic. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
Najib, 73, has been behind bars since August 2022, when Malaysia’s top court upheld his conviction in a case connected to the multibillion-dollar corruption scandal involving state investment fund Malaysia development berhad (1MDB). In a statement, he confirmed that the party had completed the payment of the 50 million ringgit fine at the High Court earlier on Friday.
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) secretary-general Asyraf Wajid Dusuki said the party had successfully raised the required amount through a fundraising campaign to support Najib. In September, Malaysia’s king granted the former prime minister a rare royal clemency, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for corruption under house arrest. The payment fulfils one of the major conditions stipulated in Najib’s royal pardon, paving the way for his transfer to house arrest. However, authorities have not yet clarified when the former prime minister will be moved from prison to his residence.