Malaysian ex-PM Najib's bid to serve prison term at home delayed

The 73-year-old former leader was jailed for his role in one of the largest-ever global plunders of a sovereign wealth fund, the now-defunct 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

King Sultan Ibrahim granted him a conditional pardon in September, allowing him to serve out the rest of his sentence at home provided he pay a $12 million fine.

Najib's party said on Friday it paid the fine.

But the attorney general's office said in a statement that it had sought a "temporary suspension of the execution of the house arrest" pending further investigation into the terms of his pardon, adding Najib would remain in prison.

"During this period, his detention status shall be maintained in his existing place of detention, subject to the powers and instructions of the relevant authorities," it said.

Najib's legal team rejected the attorney general's decision late Friday.

"The process of releasing him into house arrest was underway when the AGC statement was issued," the team said, confirming Najib remained in detention.

"We view the AGC statement as a disregard of His Majesty's order."

- Brief trip out -

Earlier on Friday, the United Malays National Organisation said it had "completed all payment processes to the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning", referring to the 50 million ringgit ($12 million) penalty.

Najib's aide, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, confirmed the payment, and the former leader's lawyer Farhan Shafee said they had already obtained papers to transfer the former leader out of jail.

Shortly afterwards, an AFP reporter saw Najib leave the Kajang Prison compound in a silver car, followed by a convoy of vehicles.

Najib did not appear at his house, according to reporters, and a government minister said he was just out for a previously scheduled dental appointment.

The same convoy that whisked Najib out of the prison compound returned more than four hours later under police escort, an AFP reporter saw.

- Money siphoned -

A Malaysian judge late last year rejected an original request to allow Najib to serve the rest of his time at home.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison in July 2020 in a first trial over vast sums of money siphoned from a former 1MDB subsidiary called SRC International Sdn Bhd.

But a pardons board later halved the term, and his fine was reduced to 50 million ringgit.

His sentence in this case is scheduled to be completed by August 2028.

Days after Najib's December bid for house arrest was turned down, the ex-PM was sentenced to another 15 years behind bars in a separate trial, also linked to the 1MDB scandal.

Najib has also been fined 11.4 billion ringgit for his role in the corruption scandal, which took place more than a decade ago.

He is currently appealing the 15-year sentence, which is only set to start once the six-year sentence is completed.

The son of one of Malaysia's founding fathers, Najib was groomed for leadership from a young age but fell from power spectacularly as public anger mounted over the corruption scandal.

Investigations under successive governments have ensnared him and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, in graft allegations since his loss in 2018 elections.

Prosecutors said Najib abused his positions as prime minister, finance minister and 1MDB advisory board chairman to move vast sums from the fund into his personal accounts.

According to investigators, proceeds from the fund were used to bankroll high-end real estate, a luxury yacht and precious artworks, including a Monet and a Van Gogh.

Fugitive financier Jho Low, who is seen as the mastermind behind one of the biggest financial heists in modern history from 1MDB, is still on the run.

Set up in 2009 under Najib, the fund was supposed to serve as an investment vehicle for major infrastructure and urban development.

But Low, through his proximity to Najib and other top officials, soon became a pivotal figure in schemes that diverted around $4.5 billion from 1MDB via shell companies and complex financial transactions, US and Malaysian prosecutors have said.