Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken a significant legal step in his quest to serve the remaining portion of his prison sentence under house arrest. His application for a judicial review, lodged on Monday (April 1) through the law firm Messrs Shafee & Co., contends that an addendum order accompanying the royal pardon he received on January 29 permits him to serve his sentence at his residence rather than in prison.
In this application, Najib has named several key figures including the Home Minister, Commissioner General of Prisons, Attorney General, and other relevant authorities as respondents. The crux of his plea lies in the mandamus order he seeks, compelling these respondents to confirm the existence of the alleged addendum order and, if found valid, to execute it promptly. Additionally, Najib is requesting access to copies of both the royal pardon and the purported addendum order.
In his affidavit, Najib asserts that he notified Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who was the reigning Yang di-Pertuan Agong on January 29, of his intention to pursue legal action regarding this matter. Furthermore, he claims to have informed His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, of his intentions on March 25. However, he refrains from attaching these letters to the application due to confidentiality concerns.
Najib emphasizes the urgency of his plea, citing the approaching Hari Raya Aidilfitri, expected on April 10. The hearing for his application is scheduled for Thursday (April 4) before High Court judge Justice Amarjeet Singh.
This legal maneuver comes after Najib's conviction on charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering in connection to funds amounting to RM42 million from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. Initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million, Najib's sentence was reduced to six years following the royal pardon. Consequently, he is set to be released on August 23, 2028, with his fine reduced to RM50 million.
Currently incarcerated at Kajang Prison, Najib's bid for house arrest marks the latest development in a legal saga that has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally.
Reference: Najib files bid to serve prison sentence under house arrest | The Star
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