Malaysia's attorney general freezes Najib's move to house arrest
The government delayed the transfer of the former prime minister after his political party paid a 50 million ringgit fine required for his royal pardon.
By Michael Bennett ·
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak will remain in prison for the time being. The country's attorney general blocked the transfer of Najib to house arrest on Friday. The legal team cited a need for further clarification on the terms of his pardon. This decision halted a process that had already begun earlier that day.
Local media reported that Najib had already left the prison gates. His political party, the United Malays National Organization, paid a 50 million ringgit fine to secure the release. The fine equals approximately 12.3 million dollars. Police had blocked the road to Najib's home in Kuala Lumpur and stationed officers at the residence in anticipation of his arrival.
The attorney general's office stated that the delay was not a contest of the royal pardon. Instead, officials needed to ensure the house arrest order was implemented accurately. The office pointed to legal ambiguities regarding how the house arrest would interact with other pending sentences. Najib has been incarcerated since August 2022 following his conviction in a graft trial linked to the 1MDB state fund.
The house arrest provision applies only to a reduced six-year sentence. It does not cover a separate 15-year prison term imposed in December 2025. That second sentence stems from corruption and money laundering charges in a different trial. Najib is currently appealing that 15-year sentence. If his appeal fails, he may face an additional 15 years in prison after his current sentence ends in August 2028.
Asyraf Wajid Dusuki, the secretary-general of the United Malays National Organization, confirmed the payment. He said the party completed the fine at the High Court earlier Friday. Dusuki noted that the party raised the funds through a donation drive. Najib's lawyers were not immediately available for comment on the sudden legal pause.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously expressed disagreement with the party's decision to pay the fine. He warned that settling the debt could send the wrong message about large-scale corruption. Ibrahim quoted the national news agency Bernama when stating that acts of corruption involving billions of ringgit should not be overlooked. He acknowledged, however, that it was the party's right to make the payment.
Najib established the 1MDB development fund in 2009. Investigators say at least 4.5 billion dollars was stolen from the fund. The money was laundered through bank accounts in the United States and other countries. It was allegedly used to finance Hollywood films and purchase luxury items, including a yacht, hotels, art, and jewelry. The scandal contributed to the 2018 election defeat of the ruling coalition that had governed since 1957.
