KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could leave Kajang Prison and begin serving the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest as early as next month, according to his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Speaking to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex today, Shafee said this would depend on two conditions being met — the High Court granting Najib a stay of his 15-year jail sentence in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case and the RM50 million fine imposed under his conditional pardon being paid.
The High Court has fixed Oct 14 to hear Najib’s application to stay the 1MDB sentence pending his appeal.
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Asked how soon Najib could return home if both conditions were fulfilled, Shafee said it would depend on how far preparations had progressed by then.
“If we are ready, let’s say on Oct 14, we get the stay, and then, God willing, the RM50 million is paid, there is a good chance he could be released on the same day.
“Or there may be some argument in court as to whether his freedom takes effect on the same day,” he said after today’s court proceedings.
However, when pressed for a firm timeline, Shafee said he could not provide an exact date.
He said the defence was pursuing the stay because of the conditional pardon granted to Najib.
Shafee explained that the legal team had previously decided not to seek a stay when Najib was convicted in the 1MDB case because he was already serving his SRC International sentence.
However, he said the conditional pardon had changed the situation as the 1MDB sentence could affect Najib’s transition to house arrest after completing his SRC sentence.
“If the SRC sentence ends, the 1MDB sentence kicks in. That is why we are asking for a stay, so that the stay has an effect,” he said.
