A Malaysian court has rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s request for a document that would enable him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. Najib had claimed that an “addendum order” issued by the former king accompanied a decision by the pardons board to reduce his jail term in the 1MDB scandal. However, the court found no basis for his application and dismissed it.
Najib, who was convicted of corruption in the 1MDB case, sought to compel the government to confirm the existence of the royal order. His lawyer stated that they plan to appeal the decision, criticizing the government for not responding to the request. Despite the reduction in his sentence, Najib remains on trial for corruption in other 1MDB-related cases.
The scandal, in which billions were siphoned from the state fund, implicated Najib, leading to his conviction in 2020. The courts upheld his verdict in 2022, and he is expected to be released in 2028. The case has sparked outrage in Malaysia, and Najib is considering seeking a full pardon.
Source: Reuters