KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could leave Kajang Prison as early as next month to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest if the High Court grants a stay of his 15-year 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) sentence, his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said today.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Shafee said the move could take place if the court grants the stay on October 14 and the RM50 million fine imposed as a condition of Najib’s conditional pardon is paid.
The High Court has fixed October 14 to hear Najib’s application to stay the execution of his 15-year prison sentence in the 1MDB case pending his appeal.
Asked how soon Najib could return home to serve his sentence under house arrest if all the required conditions were met, Shafee said it would depend on whether the necessary preparations had been completed.
“If we are ready, say on October 14 we obtain the stay of sentence and then, God willing, the RM50 million is paid, there is a strong possibility that he could be released on the same day,” he told reporters after court proceedings involving Najib.
“Or there may be arguments in court as to whether his release takes effect on the same day,” he said.
Shafee said the defence had sought the stay of the 1MDB sentence following the conditional pardon granted to Najib.
He said the legal team had previously not sought a stay when Najib was convicted in the 1MDB case because he was already serving his sentence for the SRC International case.
“However, the conditional pardon has changed the situation because the 1MDB sentence could affect Najib’s efforts to serve his SRC International sentence under house arrest,” he said.
“If the SRC sentence ends, the 1MDB sentence will begin, which is why we are seeking the stay, so that the stay has an effect,” he added.
Najib has appealed against his conviction and sentence on four charges of abusing his position and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion in 1MDB funds.
The 15-year prison term imposed in the 1MDB case is to begin after he completes his sentence in the SRC International case.
